Toronto may have felt like a frozen tundra in the last few weeks but the cold weather has had its benefits, believe it or not. The frigid temperatures have been a blessing for icewine producers; the cold weather made for ideal conditions to harvest the frozen wine grapes. And where better for Torontonians to taste the wine, escape the city and a get a respite from the winter blues than with the Niagara Icewine Festival? Anthony Annunziata, president of the Tourism Partnership of Niagara is excited for the celebration to begin: “The festival is a showcase of our talents. Niagara has long been a pioneer of making delicious wines from frozen grapes and has developed a reputation around the world for the quality of its icewines; it is something all of us Canadians should be proud of.”
From January 12 to 28, 2018 the festival makes its return for the 23rd year. Not only is it easier than ever to get there (a 90-minute drive southeast with wraparound views of Lake Ontario, or a quick 12-minute journey by plane!) but there’s something for everyone here.
The festival is an eye-opener and allows people to cultivate unexpected pleasures. For the uninitiated who are apt to believe that “icewine is too sweet” this is perhaps the best opportunity to challenge such misperceptions. “Canada’s sweet elixir” is more versatile than one would give it credit for. Magdalena Kaiser, Director of Public Relations – Marketing & Tourism for Wine Marketing Association of Ontario (WMAO) explains: “The festival is an opportunity for people to try icewine in different ways. There are so many unexpected pleasures to be had. It is a complex drink and pairs fantastically with savoury & spicy foods – examples of the former include foie gras and chicken liver pâté where the high acidity acts as a palette cleanser to the richness; for the latter, cuisines with spice such as Thai, Cajun and Creole have their heat tempered & softened by the sugar content of icewine. Visitors will come to discover that it is more versatile than they initially perhaps thought.”
There’s a world of exploration to be had during the three weeks of celebrations and indoor/outdoor events. Three Niagara communities (Niagara-on-the-Lake, Twenty Valley and Niagara Falls) are participating along with over 35 wineries. Veteran producers such as Vineyard Estates and Henry of Pelham will be present but it will also be an opportunity to taste small batch and lesser-known producers, too. Be on the lookout for newbies and their sumptuous ice wines such as Vieni, Riverview Cellars, and The Hare Wine Co.
Festival highlights:
Discovery passes (for use January 12–28, 2018) allow you to travel along the Niagara wine route and choose eight wine and culinary pairings from over 35 VQA winery participants; sip on ice wines, get guided tastings notes and specially crafted food pairings. An example to whet your appetite: Kacaba Vineyards Winery is offering Cabernet Franc Icewine paired with Chef Steve of Zooma Caters' Macho Pork Taco with Berry-fruit Salsa and Cocoa-Chilli Drizzle.
The Niagara Icewine Gala at Fallsview Casino and Resort is happening this Friday, Jan. 12, 2018 (tickets are still available). As the annual kickoff celebration, people don their finest, mingle and taste in the themed ballroom; this year it is “An Authentically Canadian Evening”. There are opportunities to try VQA icewines, reds and whites from over 35 wineries, and gourmet food stations led by top chefs which pay homage to the theme and either incorporate or complement ice wine with their dishes.
Twenty Valley Winter WineFest runs from Friday, Jan. 12 to Sunday, Jan. 14. Located in Jordan Village, the outdoor Marché hosts tasting opportunities and offers treats infused with icewine. Live entertainment will allow you to dance up a storm and stay warm or you can opt to cozy up by the fire pits. Epicureans and foodies will also want to sign up and have an icewine brunch with Chef Susur Lee.
Located right on Queen Street is the Niagara-on-the-Lake Icewine Festival, which runs from Friday, Jan. 19 to Sunday, Jan. 28. Admission is free to access the winter wonderland Icewine Village and enjoy live entertainment on Saturday, Jan. 20 and Sunday, Jan. 21. Ticketed events to take advantage of include a Sparkle and Ice Diamond Gala (where you can sip on ice wine cocktails and culinary creations), an ice wine cocktail competition, and an outdoor dinner feast called White on Ice hosted by Signature Kitchen Chefs.
The Niagara Falls Icewine Festival at the Scotiabank Convention Centre wraps up the final weekend from Friday, Jan. 26 and Saturday, Jan. 27 with plenty of gastronomic delights. Indoors, there are over 20 wineries present to offer savoury and sweet creations by Niagara’s culinary talents. Outdoors, enter their Icewine Winter Wonderland and marvel at local artistic creativity and ice sculptures. Look out for opportunities to play with your food and roast icewine marshmallows over an open fire.
