How to Compare Ice Wine to Icebox Wine

Ice wine and icebox wines are sweet dessert wines. There are similarities and differences between the two. People who enjoy sweeter wines will enjoy both types of wine. Knowing the differences and being able to compare the two will enhance your experience.

Instructions

1. Try different types of ice wine and icebox wine. Wine is very personal. People have different taste. To compare the two types of wine you have to learn your own personal likes and dislikes. Keep in mind that because someone else may like one type over another, there is no guarantee how the next person may feel.

2. Learn about the methods used to make ice wine. Grapes are harvested in the early hours of morning when they have had enough time to freeze on the vine. They are then immediately pressed. This yields a very high sugar and acid combination. This process is very labor intensive and yields less wine, which accounts for the higher cost of ice wine. This wine is produced in climates that get cold enough for the grapes to freeze, such as Germany, Canada, Washington State and the Niagara region in New York.

3. Study icebox wine and how it is different. Wineries make icebox wine by freezing grapes. These grapes are picked from the vine when they are ripe. They are then frozen and pressed.

4. Compare the price. Ice wines are typically very expensive. Ice box wines are more reasonable. Try several different types in these categories and share your findings with your wine loving friends.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep a wine journal. Many wine enthusiasts keep journals with explicit notes as to their wine tasting. They keep track of the different palates of each wine. Do the same when enjoying ice wine and icebox wine. This will give you a written record of your impression of each wine you have tried.

• Different years effect the sugar content of the grapes and the taste of the ice wines and icebox wines. If you dislike one year from a particular winery, you may enjoy another year. Keep an open mind.