Vin de Glace Varietal VIDAL Domaine REIF Icewine 37.5 cl

Description

Reif Vidal Icewine 375 ml: The Art of Naturally Frozen Grapes in Canada

Reif Estate Vidal Icewine is a distinctive Canadian dessert wine produced in the Niagara wine region of Ontario.

The winery is located in Niagara-on-the-Lake, an area renowned for its vineyards and its exceptional production of Icewine.

Established in 1982, Reif Estate Winery has played an important role in the development of Canadian ice wine.

The estate produced its first Icewine in 1984, at a time when this category was still relatively uncommon in North America.

Today, Icewine is one of Canada's most recognisable wine specialities.

The Reif Estate expression is produced from Vidal, a white hybrid grape variety particularly well suited to cold-climate viticulture.

Vidal was developed from a crossing involving Ugni Blanc and Rayon d'Or.

It is valued for its winter hardiness and its ability to maintain high natural acidity even when the grapes reach exceptional levels of sugar concentration.

These characteristics are essential for producing balanced Icewine.

Unlike conventional sweet wines, which may rely on late harvesting or noble rot, authentic Canadian Icewine is made from grapes that freeze naturally while still attached to the vine.

The grapes remain on the plants after the regular harvest season, sometimes well into winter.

When sufficiently cold temperatures arrive, the water inside the berries freezes.

Harvesting takes place while the grapes are frozen, often under demanding winter conditions.

The frozen grapes are then pressed without allowing them to thaw.

Much of the water remains trapped as ice, while a small quantity of concentrated juice is extracted.

This juice contains unusually high levels of sugar, acidity and aromatic compounds.

Because the amount of juice obtained is significantly lower than in conventional winemaking, Icewine production requires a substantial quantity of grapes for a relatively small volume of finished wine.

The concentrated juice undergoes alcoholic fermentation, resulting in a naturally sweet wine with considerable aromatic intensity.

The key to a successful Vidal Icewine is the balance between its rich sweetness and its refreshing acidity.

Reif Estate Vidal Icewine displays an attractive golden colour.

The nose reveals generous aromas of ripe apricot, peach, honey and tropical fruit.

Subtle caramel notes add another layer of complexity.

On the palate, the wine is concentrated and velvety, with flavours of ripe stone fruit and honey.

Despite its pronounced sweetness, the wine retains a lively acidity that brings freshness and definition.

The finish is long and persistent, combining fruit richness with a refreshing sensation.

This balance makes Vidal Icewine particularly suitable for food pairing.

One classic combination is blue cheese, where the salty and slightly pungent flavours contrast beautifully with the sweetness of the wine.

Foie gras is another traditional pairing, while fruit-based desserts provide a complementary approach.

Apricot tart, peach desserts and tropical fruit preparations are particularly suitable.

For serving, a temperature of approximately 6–8°C helps preserve the wine's freshness without excessively suppressing its aromas.

Reif Estate Vidal Icewine offers a distinctive expression of Canadian winter winemaking, combining naturally frozen grapes, concentrated fruit flavours and the refreshing acidity of Vidal.