What is an “Ice Wine“?

Ice wines (or Eiswein in Germany) are dessert wines that are made from grapes that have been frozen while still on the vine.

Only the healthiest of grapes are strong enough to remain in good shape until the right weather provides the opportunity for a freeze...or an ice wine harvest. In some extreme cases this may not happen until late January.

When the grapes freeze only the water within the fruit freezes but the sugars and other dissolved solids do not. This produces a high concentrated sweet must to be pressed. Naturally the juice produced is far less than that of a typical yield.

Ice wines are generally expensive but producing these delicious sweet ...READ MORE

What does “AVA“ stand for?

Every country has their own regulations pertaining to appellation distinctions, wine classifications and the information that can be put on a wine label. In the United States we have AVA's. The term "AVA" is short for American Viticultural Area. They are specific geographical areas that are both recognized and defined by governmental regulators as a wine growing region.

AVA's were first established in 1973 and the regulations governing them were finalized in 1978 by the Bureau of Alcohol, tobacco and Firearms. By 1983 these regulations become mandatory.

In order to apply for "AVA" status one must provide proof of ...READ MORE