WineAlign - Awards - 2024 NWAC Late Harvest and Icewine

Results of the 2024 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada (The Nationals)

Late Harvest and Icewine

Category Overview by Judge Sara d’Amato

(Jump straight to the medal winners.)

Icewine is a part of our Canadian DNA and love it or loathe it, Icewine remains our most important wine export. Risk is inherent in Icewine growing, now more than ever with erratic weather patterns on the rise. Since Canadian’s have begun making Icewine in the late 1970s, we have yet to miss out on a harvest despite coming close in mild winter vintages such as that of 2019 in Ontario. Yet VQA regulations remain unchanged on the production of what is otherwise known as “liquid gold”. The grapes must be naturally frozen on the vine, harvested, and pressed while the air temperature remains at or below -8 degrees Celsius. Vineyards are often netted to prevent birds from feasting on the extra-ripe grapes and recurrent periods of freezing and thawing can cause grapes to split, increasing volatile acidity in the wine. Icewine production is a physically demanding task for both for the vines that must bear their fruit into the cold of winter, as well as for the winemaker who often harvests on the coldest of winter nights.

The result is a wine like no other, its potent concentration exposes the essence of the grape and slow evolution reveals complexity for decades to come. Judges looked for balance above all else in the category. Given that many of the grapes are picked at over 40 Brix and some Icewines can hit over 300 g/L of residual sugar, an important acid content is key to preventing a cloying experience. Thresholds for volatile acidity may be higher in the late harvest and Icewine categories, but a wine would lose points for excessive volatility.

It is no surprise that Inniskillin once again has a strong showing at this year’s awards, receiving 2 of the 4 gold medals wines with the 2022 Vidal Gold Icewine winning Best Icewine of the Year. One of the first to produce Icewine in Ontario under the direction of co-founders Karl Kaiser and Donald Ziraldo in the early 80s, Inniskillin remains steadfast in its dedication to Canada’s most recognized wine with 9 medals in the Icewine and Late Harvest categories from both their Ontario and B.C. production. Vidal dominated the results, making up 11 of the 24 medalled wines and 3 out of 4 gold medal wines. Red Icewines were a little less significant in the results this year but ran the gamut from zweigelt to cabernet franc. Sparkling Icewine proved it is a style worth preserving garnering 3 medals. The results reveal there is no shortage in resilience diversity among Canadian Icewines.

And the winners are…

Inniskillin Niagara 2022 Vidal Gold Icewine, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

Inniskillin Niagara 2022 Vidal Icewine, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Jackson-Triggs Niagara 2022 Reserve Vidal Icewine, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Two Sisters Vineyards 2023 Riesling Icewine, Niagara River, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

Inniskillin Niagara 2022 Cabernet Franc Icewine, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Inniskillin Niagara 2022 Riesling Icewine, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Inniskillin Okanagan 2022 Estate Riesling Icewine, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Strewn 2023 Ice Star Vidal Icewine, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Volcanic Hills 2022 Zweigelt Icewine, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

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