ice wine
C1formal, technical (oenology), culinary
Definition
Meaning
A type of dessert wine made from grapes that have been frozen while still on the vine, resulting in a concentrated, sweet flavour.
An expensive, high-quality sweet wine produced under specific climatic conditions, primarily associated with regions like Canada (where it is often styled 'Icewine'), Germany ('Eiswein'), and Austria. The process yields a small amount of intensely flavoured, high-sugar-content wine.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term refers exclusively to the specific winemaking process and product. It is not a generic term for any wine served cold. Often written as one word ('Icewine'), particularly in Canada, its largest producer.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spacing: 'ice wine' (more common in UK/US general use) vs. the single-word 'Icewine' (common as a protected term in Canada and on labels). The concept is equally understood.
Connotations
Connotes luxury, rarity, and specific production standards. In North American contexts, strongly associated with Canadian (particularly Ontario) and some US (e.g., New York) production.
Frequency
Higher frequency in North American English due to Canada's prominence in production. In the UK, it's a known term among wine enthusiasts but less common in everyday conversation.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject: region/winery] produces ice wine[Subject: vintner] harvests [grapes] for ice wineto pair ice wine with [dessert/cheese]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Liquid gold (a metaphorical nickname for high-quality ice wine due to its colour and value)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
In the wine export market, Canadian Icewine is a premium product with strict VQA (Vintners Quality Alliance) regulations.
Academic
The cryo-extraction process fundamental to ice wine production concentrates sugars and acids, resulting in a distinctive biochemical profile.
Everyday
We brought back a bottle of ice wine from Niagara as a special gift.
Technical
The grapes must reach a minimum must weight of 35° Brix and be pressed while frozen at or below -8°C to qualify as ice wine.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The vineyard hopes to icewine this vintage if the frosts arrive in time.
- They have never successfully iced wine in this region due to mild winters.
American English
- The winery plans to ice-wine the Riesling grapes next month.
- It's risky to ice wine because an early thaw can ruin the crop.
adjective
British English
- The ice-wine harvest was exceptionally small this year.
- They specialise in ice-wine production.
American English
- This ice-wine festival attracts connoisseurs from across the country.
- An icewine tasting flight is available.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This wine is very sweet. It is called ice wine.
- We tried a delicious Canadian ice wine with our dessert.
- Due to the labour-intensive process, authentic ice wine commands a high price.
- The vintner gambled on leaving the Vidal grapes on the vine through December, anticipating the perfect conditions for Icewine.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of WINTER VINES: ICE on the grapes makes concentrated WINE.
Conceptual Metaphor
WINEMAKING IS ALCHEMY (transforming frozen grapes into liquid gold).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation as 'ледяное вино' for any chilled wine. The correct term is 'айсвайн' (a direct borrowing) or 'вино из ледяного винограда'. 'Ледяное вино' might be misunderstood as wine served on ice.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'ice wine' to refer to a wine cooler or a cocktail with ice. Confusing it with 'iced tea' style drinks. Misspelling as 'icewine' in contexts where the two-word form is standard.
Practice
Quiz
Which country is most famously associated with the production and branding of 'Icewine' (as a single word)?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is a specific type of sweet dessert wine made from grapes frozen on the vine, not a serving suggestion.
The grapes for ice wine must freeze naturally *before* fermentation, concentrating the sugars and flavours. Other sweet wines may use late-harvest grapes or fortification.
Yields are very low (one grape bunch makes a tiny amount of juice), the harvest is risky and done by hand at night in freezing conditions, and production is strictly regulated.
It pairs excellently with strong blue cheeses, fruit-based desserts like tarte tatin, or foie gras. It can also be enjoyed alone as a dessert.