Sensory and chemical characteristics of Canadian ice wines

Fifty-one Canadian ice wines, representative of a range of varieties and vintages, were evaluated chemically and 20 wines further evaluated sensorally. Ice wines from British Columbia and Ontario were significantly different for a range of chemical and sensory attributes. British Columbia ice wines had higher titratable acidity, acetic acid and glucose, and lower colour and ethyl acetate content compared with those from Ontario. Apricot, raisin, honey and oak aromas were more pronounced in Ontario ice wines, while British Columbia ice wines had higher intensities of pineapple and oxidized aromas. Riesling ice wines had higher titratable acidity and glucose and lower pH and A420 values compared with Vidal. Vintage effects were also found for pH, A420, glucose, fructose, ethanol and ethyl acetate.