5th Annual Ice Wine Festival
By: Ashley Zilka
Updated: February 15, 2013
There are only 20 wineries in New York State that make ice wine and ten of them are coming to Casa Larga Vineyards Saturday.
"The purpose of the festival is to elevate the understanding of what it means to make a true ice wine," said Andrea Colaruotolo O'Neill, Director of Marketing and Sales.
For the 5th year, Casa Larga Vineyards is celebrating New York State's award-winning ice wines. The state's cold winters are ideal for the specialty drink.
The reason why it tastes so good has a lot to do with how it's made. Making ice wine is a complicated process and what some call a risky business.
Most wineries finish harvesting grapes in October, but that's not the case for ice wines. The grapes must be picked and pressed while frozen.
"You have the wind. The wind can blow the fruit off the vines because they are still hanging and lately we have had the potential of it not freezing. The longer the grapes are out there, we want the cold freeze that comes right after November. It's almost like taking grapes from your house and putting them in your freezer, and then you want to be able to pick them like that and press them," said O'Neill.
Along with the wine tasting at Saturday's festival, you can also enjoy great food and seminars. The event is from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Tickets are $65 at the door.
"The purpose of the festival is to elevate the understanding of what it means to make a true ice wine," said Andrea Colaruotolo O'Neill, Director of Marketing and Sales.
For the 5th year, Casa Larga Vineyards is celebrating New York State's award-winning ice wines. The state's cold winters are ideal for the specialty drink.
The reason why it tastes so good has a lot to do with how it's made. Making ice wine is a complicated process and what some call a risky business.
Most wineries finish harvesting grapes in October, but that's not the case for ice wines. The grapes must be picked and pressed while frozen.
"You have the wind. The wind can blow the fruit off the vines because they are still hanging and lately we have had the potential of it not freezing. The longer the grapes are out there, we want the cold freeze that comes right after November. It's almost like taking grapes from your house and putting them in your freezer, and then you want to be able to pick them like that and press them," said O'Neill.
Along with the wine tasting at Saturday's festival, you can also enjoy great food and seminars. The event is from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Tickets are $65 at the door.
