Malagash, Nova Scotia - Other than Nova Scotia ski hill operators hoping to make snow, John and Anne Warner were amongst the few people in Nova Scotia pleased about the cold temperatures last night.

 

The Warners are the largest producers of Icewine juice in Nova Scotia. From their vineyards on the edge of the north mountain, north of Kentville, their juice is sold to Blomidon Estate Winery, Jost Vineyards, Gaspereau Vineyards and Domaine de Grand Pré.

“With a mild November and December, there is always the worry that the harvest may not happen until well into January, by which time, many of the grapes would have fallen to the ground , reducing the Icewine harvest,” says John Warner. “Most harvests take place over three or four nights, but this year we managed to get everything harvested between 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. last night.”

 

Most Icewine harvests happen at night because the sun starts to melt the grapes on the vine in the morning, diluting the flavor. Icewine grapes need to be harvested at -8C or colder to concentrate the sugars and flavours in the juice, leaving behind the frozen ice crystals. Even the pressing happens in a cold, uninsulated building in the middle of the vineyard.

 

“I am pleased that the Icewine harvest is completed now, before the holiday season,” says Hans Christian Jost, owner of Jost Vineyards. “Now it is up to our winemakers to ferment the juice into wine over the next month, with some of the 2009 Icewine hitting the market in the summer of 2010.”

 

Nova Scotia Icewines consistently win top honours in national and international competitions. Jost Vineyards 1999 Vidal Icewine was Canada’s Wine of The Year at the 2000 All Canadian Wine Championships.

 

 

For more information please contact:

Hans Christian Jost  |   Telephone 902 257 2636

John Warner |  Telephone 902 678 9897 or Cell 902 679 8201

 

 

Christine White

Director of Communications & Events

Winery Association of Nova Scotia

36 Brookshire Court, Suite 14

Bedford, Nova Scotia  B4A 4E9

Tel: (902)492-9291 ext 115

        (800)281-5507 ext 115

Fax:  (902)492-9286

E-mail: christine@winesofnovascotia.ca

www.winesns.ca