“Wine, food, friends and family. These are the pillars of a wonderful life.”
— Sue-Ann Staff
“Wine, food, friends and family. These are the pillars of a wonderful life.”
— Sue-Ann Staff
Icewine is Canada's greatest contribution to the world of wine — and Niagara is its spiritual home. At Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery in Jordan, Ontario, Icewine is not a product. It is a labour of love, a test of patience, and a celebration of the extraordinary conditions that make the Niagara Peninsula one of the most important Icewine regions on earth.
Sue-Ann Staff is one of Canada's most celebrated winemakers, with over 600 national and international wine awards. Learn more about Sue-Ann Staff's winemaking story.
Icewine is a sweet, luscious wine produced from grapes naturally frozen on the vine. It is harvested at a minimum of -8°C and immediately pressed to achieve 36-40° Brix. This honey-like juice is cool fermented and then aged in stainless steel. Suitable for immediate drinking or cellaring for up to 10 years.
Canadian Icewine is governed by strict VQA regulations: the grapes must freeze naturally on the vine — no artificial freezing permitted — and must be pressed at -8°C or colder. This distinguishes Canadian Icewine from lesser imitations produced elsewhere in the world.
Niagara's climate is uniquely suited to Icewine production. The moderating influence of Lake Ontario extends the growing season, allowing grapes to ripen fully before the deep freeze of a Canadian winter sets in. The Niagara Escarpment protects vineyards from the harshest winds, while cold Arctic air masses reliably deliver the sub-zero temperatures required for harvest.
Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery's estate vineyard in Jordan sits on clay soil over a limestone rock base — the same terroir that gives the winery's Rieslings their signature minerality, and that threads through every bottle of Howard's Icewine Vidal. Discover our award-winning Niagara Rieslings.
Sue-Ann's Icewines are vinified from Vidal. Icewines are available in 200ml and 375ml formats, with and without gift boxes.
Sue-Ann Staff's Icewine is named in honour of her father, Howard Victor Staff — a man as committed to family, farming, and community as his ancestors before him. Howard was a staunch supporter of Sue-Ann's career and relished her success. He loved all her wines, but particularly her Icewines. Every bottle of Howard's Icewine Vidal is a tribute to his legacy.
2018 Howard's Icewine Vidal (200ml): Vibrant fruit notes resonate throughout, accompanied by gorgeous minerality that threads its way through the palate and finish. Look for candied lemon peel, orange marmalade, and peach jam with wet stone and balancing acidity. A lengthy, seductive finish persists. Harvested in early January 2019 at -11°C. 215 g/L residual sugar.
2017 Howard's Icewine Vidal (375ml): Vibrant fruit notes reverberate throughout with gorgeous minerality threaded throughout the palate and finish. Candied lemon peel, orange marmalade and peach jam with wet stone and balancing acidity. A lengthy, seductive finish persists. Harvested December 29, 2017 at -11°C. 207 g/L residual sugar.
"Mid straw yellow. Summer yellow stone fruits, spiced pear and candied citrus. Lovely balance of super sweet juicy fruits and tangy acidity, the long finish has notes of honey and candlewax." — IWSC Tasting Panel
"So delish with ripe peach, pear, tropical fruit and pink grapefruit flavours — sweet and balanced on the palate." — Natalie MacLean
"Bitter lemon, orange and mint on the piercing nose. Lovely waxy texture, with honeyed lemon and pineapple." — Decanter World Wine Awards
Icewine's extraordinary sweetness and acidity make it one of the most versatile dessert wines in the world. Typically, Icewine is served with desserts such as crème brûlée and sabayon, exotic fruit salads (mango, guava, peach), or with cheeses such as Roquefort and old Cheddar with honey. The savviest will pair it with mains such as sweet potato gnocchi, candied salmon, and cured duck breast.
Planning a wedding in Niagara wine country? Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery hosts weddings on our 200-year-old estate — with Icewine as the perfect toast.
Ontario residents can order Howard's Icewine Vidal online with delivery across the province. Free shipping on orders of $150 or more. Browse our current Icewine selection.
Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery is one of 35 member wineries in the Niagara Benchlands. Read our Niagara Benchlands Winery Guide to plan your wine country visit.
Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery is located at 3210 Staff Avenue in Jordan, Ontario — approximately 30 minutes from Niagara Falls and one hour from Toronto. Wine tastings are available seven days a week from 11 am to 5:30 pm. Plan your visit.
VQA regulations require grapes to be harvested and pressed at -8°C or colder. At Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery, Howard's Icewine Vidal is typically pressed at -11°C, yielding an intensely concentrated juice with exceptional depth of flavour.
Thanks to its high residual sugar and acidity, Icewine keeps exceptionally well once opened — up to several weeks refrigerated. Unopened, a well-stored bottle can age gracefully for up to 10 years or more.
Sue-Ann's Icewines are vinified from Vidal and Cabernet Franc. Exceptional years also yield a rare Riesling Icewine. Vidal is prized for its thick skin that resists splitting during the freeze, while Cabernet Franc Icewine — the Wisteria Tree — offers a distinctive red fruit character unique among Canadian Icewines.
Not necessarily. Icewine production depends entirely on the weather — grapes must freeze naturally on the vine at the right time. In years where conditions are not ideal, a winery may choose not to produce Icewine rather than compromise quality.
Absolutely. Icewine is available as part of our regular tasting flights. Call 905-562-1719 or visit our tasting page to plan your visit.
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