Warm winter can’t stop annual Ice Wine Festival

Staff report

MADISON

The Ice Wine Festival was in danger because of the warm weather, but Mother Nature pulled it out with a last-minute freeze.

The annual festival will be three consecutive Saturdays — March 3, 10 and 17 — at five Grand River Valley wineries, just south of Geneva on the Lake.

This year is a special celebration because of the weather scare, said Tony Debevc, president of Debonne Vineyards. “There was much concern regarding the ice wine harvest,” he said. “With an unusually warm winter, there was fear that the grapes would rot on the vines before there was an opportunity to pick. But a blizzard blew into the region, temperatures dropped and the picking crews were called in.”

Ice wines are rich, sweet and expensive wines made from grapes picked while frozen on the vine. The wines featured at this year’s festival are true ice wines. Grapes are left on the vines after the harvest are picked once temperatures fall below 17 degrees, and pressed before they thaw.

Participating wineries in this year’s festival are Debonne, Ferrante Winery and Ristorante, Grand River Cellars, Laurello Vineyards and St. Joseph Vineyards. All are within a 10- minute drive of each other.

The festival, now in its ninth year, was expanded to three weekends last year, resulting in more manageable crowds.

“Each year this festival has grown in popularity due to the quality product that is being offered to the consumer,” said Nick Ferrante, chairman of the event. “We are fortunate to be able to grow award winning ice wines right here in Northeastern Ohio. Many of the ice wines consumers will taste have won Best of Show and Double Gold Medals from competitions all over the United States. Not only is it a great product but a very reasonable priced event for the quality of the product.”

Festivalgoers visit each winery, where they will get a wine sample, ice wine glass and appetizer for $6. They will also experience different attractions, like ice carving, special wine dinners and artisan demonstrations, at each site. Hours are noon to 5 p.m. each day.

Those who bring canned food items will get a dollar off at each winery. For information and a map, go to wggrv.com or call 440-466-3485.