Icewine

Wine that is produced from grapes that have been semi-frozen. Discovered unexpectedly in Germany in the 1700's when a crop of grapes were partially frozen due to an early frost, icewine is now produced in colder climates throughout Europe and North America. To produce this beverage, the grapes are covered with netting and not harvested until temperatures reach 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit or -7 to -12 degrees Celsius. As the grape is processed, the water is removed as ice, and the highly concentrated juices that remain are then fermented into wine. Icewine is a sweet flavored wine that is often served as a dessert wine.