Wollersheim Winery Announces Successful Ice Wine Grape Harvest | Business

Although Wisconsin's winter is getting off to a mild start, the infamous freezing temps that normally bite during winter kicked in just long enough to reap a sweet Ice Wine grape harvest at Wollersheim Winery.

On the seasonably chilly morning of Dec. 10, two acres of completely frozen St. Pepin grapes were hand-harvested from Wollersheim’s vineyards while temperatures hovered around six degrees Fahrenheit. According to winemaker Philippe Coquard, “it couldn’t have gone any better.”

After one hour of crushing and nearly eight hours of pressing, 4,200 pounds of completely frozen grapes were eventually whittled down into only about 240 gallons of Ice Wine that measured a sweetness level of 35.6 degrees Brix.

Because the water in the grapes turns to ice crystals as the temperatures drop, a lack of water being pressed from the grape means a condensed juice full of highly concentrated sugars and aromatics comes out of the press. After a long, slow and cool fermentation, the juice will become a thick and golden wine full of rich, sweet nuances of stone fruit, orange zest and honey. The 2011 vintage of Wollersheim’s Ice Wine won’t be released until October of 2012, but those anxious to enjoy this special dessert wine can find bottles of the 2010 vintage at the winery or in select markets.

"Ice wine is special because it’s rare, unique and above and beyond a standard wine," Coquard said in a news release. "It’s nature’s way of concentrating the sugars and flavors in the fruit that truly captures the sweet essence of the grape. And we’re fortunate enough here in Wisconsin to be able to grow grapes and have that perfect temperature bracket to make a true Ice Wine."