20 - North Shore Hews - Wednesday, December 13, 2000

livin oon

Bough fe

“Tine Arctic cold front grip-
ping the Okanagan was good
news for die valley’ 's ice wine
producers.

According to a news release

I. was a : busy morning
in the vineyards of the
- Rreanagan Valley ¢ on

FABRIC RED
ov

RESEDA Tid @ RAIA MORIN Ot RAST

freeze grapes on a vine

from Quails* ‘Gate | Estate
Winery, friends and emplovees
of the winery were busy in the
early hours of Monday har-
vesting frozen riesting grapes

CTION
&

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ern beet ont ot

Further reductions
_ starting December 27.
_ including books, patterns, batting

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in ‘the winery's Boucheric area
vineyard. The temperature was
-14 degrees Celsius and the
average sugar content of the
grapes was 50.8 Brix.

“At Quails’ Gate, apprexi-
mately 25 tons of grapes were
set aside during the regular
autumn harvest for the specific
purpose of ice wine.

Protective netting went up.

as the fruit ripened to keep
away nibbling. predators who
are very fond of the extra-sweet
fruit. Then, the ice wine wait-
ing game began, with the wine-
making and vinevard staff moa-
itoring the weather. forecast on

a daily basis, waiting for the :
temperature to dip to at least’

minus 8 degrees C, the niini-
mum temperature required to

_ freeze the grapes solid, aceerd-
to Vintner's Quality.

ing
Alliance standards.

When the grapes freeze; the
water, naturally present. in. the
grape juice turns into ice, and

.. the remaining liquid inside

each grape becomes a highly
concentrated, : very sweet and
thick nectar.

: The VQA. standards also
require that ice wine: grapes

must’ be: crushed ‘and. pressed -
while still frozen to maintain
the high sugar content which is

one of the special hallmarks of
ice wine. *

_ | Pressing tirese bail- bearing”
hard grapes is a time-consum-

ing, process, as the thick juice

takes a ee time to emerge. ~
. leaves. behind a .
__ Solid Picek S of. ice containing ©
“the skins and seeds, which must

be literally chipped away from’.

SR Nee coh et

the press before the ‘next load
‘can be deposited. :

Canada _is unique among
the world’s. wine-producing
nations.

Our cool-climate growing

conditions aliow us the best of

both worlds: a summer grow-
ing season which allows for the
ripening of even the most
demanding vinifera varieties
like chardonnay and pinot noir,
and winter conditions which,
with few exceptions, foster the
annual production of ice wine.

The thick, sweet wine is a high-.

ly sought-after product the

. world over, and Canadian ice”

wines are, recognized as the
best. .
British Columbia ice wine

producers such as Quails’ Gate.

have helped this uniquely
Canadian ‘specialty product
gain international attention.
“. The 2000 vintage of Quails’
Gate ice wine won’t be hitting
the shelves una fall 2002. .

. Until then, it will remain in

the winery's production’ cellars, °
under the watchful eye | of |
Australian-trained winemaker ~
Ashley Hooper. .

This is Hooper's first

encounter with ice wine pro- °°

duction, and of it, he said: |
“Nothing i in Australia prepared os
me for dsis kind of crazy wines:
making! But I'm glad we. got a°
chance to make it this year, and
the high quality of the fruit cat...
there promises a pretty s
vintage. It’s kind of a festive:
way to finish up'a great. har- ”
vest.”

ice wine is also a great’ way
to celebrate the holidays: — it

-makes 2 wonderfu! creat paired

with cheese, fruit’ desserts. or.
just on its own in the company.
of friends and a ‘varm fire. It’s’ -:

“also a thoughtful gift, for thase

with a sweet tooth. ‘Find ‘ a

_Selection of B.C. ice wines “at
government liquor stores, pri- -:
* vate wine she

, and the North
Shore’s VQA“"shop,
Edgemont Vilge Wines

food CA alendar .

cial

_then settle in for.whae’s sure

: Chartwell.-To miake reserva-.

DEC: 2 “Be. 25: Four
Seasons Hotel executive chef ’

“ Dougtas Anderson has creat-
ed five-course menus | for .
both Christmas’ Eve and event for the calendar. send it

“i on have a ‘food or win
Christmas Day.. Rather ‘than - to” the. ‘North’ Shore ‘News,
spending the holidays i in the 1139° Lonsdale

kitchen, enjoy it with family,’ : Vancouver, BCS V7. 2H:
“Email /

news.com>

° 2104... Priority:
fundraising. events and ti

to be a wonderful. meal ‘in =»:

tions for: either Christmas.
. Eve’ or Christmas Day
689" 9333. ‘