Wine specialty
Grape growers are hoping for cool nights to harvest ice grapes
Ice grapes are rare, sweet and sought after – but climate change and limited cold temperatures make harvesting a daunting prospect. What winemakers now expect and appreciate.
Individual wineries in the southwest are hoping to use the frigid night temperatures to harvest recent ice grapes. Managing Director of the Baden Grape Growers Association, Holger Klein, said in Freiburg that the temperature in Freiburg should be quite cold. A minimum cold temperature of minus seven degrees is a basic production requirement. The frozen grapes are taken back and then immediately pressed.
“Ice wine is a play on whimsy,” Klein continues. According to him, winemakers are drinking ice wine less and less. The reason is clear: due to climate change, the weather is rarely cold and the grapes in question still have to hang on the vine. According to information from the association, no winemakers in the Württemberg wine region wish to harvest ice wine.
Grape growers in South Baden harvest frozen grapes
This worked for the Kiefer-Seufert winery from Ballrechten-Dottingen in the Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald district. On Sunday evening, helpers harvested frozen grapes there. “It’s going very well,” said winemaker Philipp Kiefer. The grapes are still very healthy. This can be seen from the aroma and color of the must. A total of 197 liters of ice wine were received. The winery’s last ice grape harvest was in 2017.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, ice wine is a typical traditional wine drink in Baden-Württemberg due to its geographical location and the resulting frosts. Freezing grapes concentrates the ingredients. Grapes range in color from dark amber to amber.
Ice wine is considered a rare item among wine connoisseurs. This is a high quality and noble sweet wine. Ice wine usually has high levels of residual sugar, namely more than 100 grams per liter. Harvesting should take place at the end of February. As the German Wine Institute reports, ice wine especially requires healthy grapes. This ensures a fresh and intense fruit taste.
dpa
