Do you have a few extra days to travel this month? Consider visiting an Icewine festival. Canadian Icewine must follow strict regulations including the harvesting of grapes when the temperature is below -8 degrees Celsius (17 degrees Fahrenheit). The Icewine is expensive due to the labor-intensive procedure including usually handpicking the grapes and the frozen grapes providing little juice.

A visit to Niagara where you will discover a Icewine Festival would make a delightful getaway. Be sure to visit Inniskillin where you will be greeted with an Icewine served in a glass carved of ice. Other delightful wineries are also very involved with the Icewine Festival.

At Sun Peaks Resort in British Columbia, Icewines and late harvest wines will be available during the 11th Annual Icewine Festival, January 13-18. Enjoy icewines, dinners, seminars, a progressive tasting and skiing. Information is available online.

If you can’t get away during January, consider the Icewine festival in Nova Scotia scheduled from February 12 – 22. Complete with tastings, gourmet dinners, cooking classes and ice sculptures this festival’s plans are exciting. Check out the individual wineries for details. However, Fire & Ice Gala Event looks like a great experience.

If you prefer to travel in the US, Casa Larga will host its first Annual New York Ice Wine Festival in February. Events include “Fire & Ice,” An Evening with the NY Ice Wine Makers”, a wine seminar and a Fiori Dinner.

Enjoy your journey into the world of Icewine. If you do get a chance to visit an Icewine festival, write and let others know your experiences.

Cheers!