Left on the vines to freeze into the winter, a lot of trust has to be present between the vineyard and the winemaker in order to create the decadence of Ice Wine.
But is it a case of ice by name and ice by nature when it comes to serving?
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Should Ice Wine Be Chilled?
Yes, ice wine should be chilled. The best temperature to serve Ice Wine is chilled, so aim for around 50–54°F or 10-12°C.
In order to do the complex flavours of Ice Wine justice, the wine is going to need to be chilled down before serving.
The best way to do this is by using a wine fridge or other refrigerator.
Try not to serve Ice Wines too cold or too warm, as extreme temperatures either way can have a huge impact on the flavour.
Too cold and your taste buds will numb and you’ll miss out on the delicious taste.
Too warm and all that wonderful sugar can quickly become sickly and cloying.
| Ice Wine Type | Serving Temperature | Storage Temperature | Chilling Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riesling Ice Wine | 50–54°F or 10-12°C | 11°C to 15°C (51–59°F) | 1-2 hours |
| Vidal Blanc Ice Wine | 50–54°F or 10-12°C | 11°C to 15°C (51–59°F) | 1-2 hours |
| Cabernet Franc Ice Wine | 50–54°F or 10-12°C | 11°C to 15°C (51–59°F) | 1-2 hours |
So once your Ice Wine has reached your preferred temperature and you’re ready to serve, try and use a wine cooler to help maintain that temperature.
Here are some celebrated styles of Ice Wine and the temperatures you should aim to serve them at?
Popular Styles of Ice Wine and Their Ideal Serving Temperature
- Riesling Ice Wine - With notes of sweet yellow plum, rich pineapple and orange scented honey serve this sweet style of Riesling well chilled (50–54°F or 10-12°C)
- Vidal Blanc Ice Wine - Popular in Canada this style of Ice Wine oozes of lemon curd and syrupy tinned peaches, serve chilled to do it justice (50–54°F or 10-12°C)
- Cabernet Franc Ice Wine - Not all Ice Wines are made from white grapes! This sweet style of Cabernet Franc tastes of sweet preserved cherries and strawberry shortcake. Serve chilled (50–54°F or 10-12°C)
What is the Best Storage Temperature for Ice Wine?
The best temperature to store Ice Wine is between 11°C and 15℃ (51–59°F).
Consistency is key here.
So try to maintain a good level of humidity, avoid direct sunlight where you can and keep your wine a good distance from household appliances that emit vibrations, such as a dishwasher or washing machine.
If you don’t have a wine cellar, your garage or kitchen pantry is often a good place to store your wine.
Related: How Long Does Ice Wine Last?
But can Ice Wine go in the fridge?
Should You Put Ice Wine In The Fridge?
Absolutely, when it comes to getting your Ice Wine ready to serve, it’s actually recommended that you place it in the fridge to reach the required temperature.
Ideally, your Ice Wine should be chilled down to 50–54°F or 10-12°C before serving.
If you want to make sure that you are consistently serving your Ice wine at the best temperature possible you may want to consider investing in a specialised wine refrigerator.
They’ll look after your desired wine temperature for you so you’re free to move on with your day.
So how long should you put Ice Wine in the fridge?
How Long Should You Chill Ice Wine For?
If you have a specialist wine fridge the conditions will have been designed to look after your wine.
This means that you can leave your bottles in there for long periods of time without having to worry about them getting too cold.
However, if you have a domestic refrigerator the drier conditions may damage any corks, so it’s best to store your Ice Wine elsewhere.
Just be sure to place the wine in the fridge 1-2 hours before serving and your Ice Wine will be perfectly chilled in no time.
Here are some of our top tips on serving Ice wine:
5 Tips on Serving Ice Wine
- Ice Wines need to be cold so they don’t become cloying, aim for between 50–54°F or 10-12°C.
- If your Ice Wine becomes too cold for your liking simply remove it from the fridge and give it some time to warm up a little.
- Wine coolers can be used to help maintain your Ice Wine’s temperature in between serving.
- You don’t have to keep your Ice Wine in the fridge, long term. Save the space for liquids with a shorter shelf life, like milk.
- Store your Ice Wine at cellar temperatures, between 11°C and 15℃ (51–59°F).
Before You Go...
We hope you enjoyed our article on whether Ice Wine should be chilled.
Do you need to know how to chill red wines correctly?
Read our next article about chilling red wines correctly here...
Should Red Wine Be Chilled? (Full Guide)
If you have any questions, leave them in the comments, or email us at info@expertwinestorage.co.uk
Learn more about other Wine Types here.
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