Hi Everyone! A lot of people keep asking me for more information about Ice Wine, more technically spelled Eis Wein due to its origins from Riesling and Gewurtztraminer varieties in Germany. I wish I could give you more news about Okanagan wines from Penticton, British Columbia, but unfortunately the mega-successful vintners there are sticking to their preferred boutique atmosphere: small volumes, outstanding quality and relatively healthy prices to match.
The best news on this topic all year is that the Soaring Eagle vintner just north of Penticton towards Naramata, number 8 on the map to the right, won the 2008 Gold Medal in the locally held international competition for the best ice wine produced in North America. My wife Yoko and I drank four bottles of this exquisite meade when we were in Penticton in September, and the only thing worse than airport security is emptying that fourth bottle. What a wonderful wine, paired with home made, 70% fat vanilla ice cream and served with a bowl fresh raspberries, blackberries and currents grown nearby. Who needs food?
With a need to drink Eis Wein, you can always indulge in some of the many Eis Weins available from the Niagara Falls region of Southern Ontario. Go to Hanshin, Daimaru and Hankyu Department Stores and look for Cabernet Franc and Vidal, two of the more common varietals in the middle class which is relatively common here. You will need to check in periodically because volumes are limited and they do sell out quickly. But hey, it’s better than spending 30,000 yen or more on a high-end German Gewurtztraminer or Riesling!
Enjoy!
Martin Werner Zander, Smith’s Partner
マーティン・ワーナー・ザンダー
Smith’s School of English Kotoen Nigawa Sakasegawa Nishinomiya
月謝制のスミス英会話 甲東園 校 仁川 校 逆瀬川 西宮市
http://www.smithweb.co.jp/school/kotoen.shtml
Smith’s School of English Fukushima Umeda Osaka
月謝制のスミス英会話 福島 校 梅田 校 大阪市
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