The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Turning 20
It’s a big year for area’s Ice Wine Festival, which pairs tantalizing tastes with winter spirit
The 20th annual Grand River Valley Ice Wine Festival has become one of the largest March festivals in Ohio, drawing thousands of winter-weary visitors wishing to celebrate a wine unique to cold-weather places.
Participating wineries are all just a few minutes drive apart in eastern Lake County and western Ashtabula County.
It continues daily from noon through 5 p.m. through the month with six wineries and a distillery serving ice wine paired with appetizers.
Saturdays bring extra activities such as live music, fire pits and the roasting of ice wine marshmallows and s’mores. Once taking place only on Saturdays, expanding the festival to weekdays has lessened the weekend crowds and given time for visits to all six wineries. It’s a high-energy celebration that gives a chance to know the people who make the wines during a slow season in the vineyards.
Ice wine can be produced only in limited areas of the world because the grapes must hang on their vines until temperatures reach 17 degrees or lower, freezing them solid. By then, they’ve shrunk and their sugars are concentrated to create the sweet nectar called ice wine. Harvest is a labor-intensive effort because the nets that protect the grapes from birds must be cut away by hand in the freezing cold. The grapes are pressed into juice when still frozen. The 2022 ice wine harvest took place on Christmas Eve, when much of the area was in the middle of a frigid winter storm.
Most of the wineries are not yet pouring wine from the recent harvest, preferring to let it age before serving.
The $8 fee charged at each winery includes a cordial glass, as well as an ice wine taste and appetizer, giving participants a chance to collect a half dozen glasses to take home. A distillery serving an ice wine cocktail is among the mix.
An ice wine progressive dinner is available by reservation Fridays from 6 to 10 p.m during the Ice Wine Festival. Each course is accompanied by an ice wine.
Each dinner begins with an appetizer at Debonne Vineyards, moves on to Grand River Vineyards for the entree and concludes with dessert at Cask 307. It can be booked by calling 440-298-9838.
March 17 dinner
Appetizer: Pineapple Cheese Ball.
Entrée: Pomegranate Braised Short Ribs or J ala pen o-Garlic Butter Shrimp (Lenten), with ParmesanRosemary Mashed Potatoes, Everything Bagel and White Bean Arugula Salad with Ice Wine Vinaigrette.
Dessert: Apricot BrownButter Tart.
March 24 dinner
Appetizer: Pear with Blue Cheese and Candied Walnuts.
Entrée: Ice WineSoaked Peach and Rosemary Bruschetta Chicken over Roasted Potatoes or Shrimp Alfredo (Lenten), Warm Brussel Sprout & Pecan Salad.
Dessert: Lemon Cream Cake.
Here’s what each winery will be offering during the Ice Wine Festival from noon to 6 p.m. during March. Not all wineries are open seven days per week, so check the website of the Wine Growers of the Grand River Valley, wggrv. com, before choosing where to begin.
Ice wine Festival participants:
Debonne Vineyards, 7743 Doty Road, Madison Township
Appetizer: Jambalaya.
Featured wine: 2022 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine, 2019 Riesling, Cherry Bourbon Ice Wine.
Saturdays: Jam & Rub sampling by Peppers4You; production tour with winemaking staff
More: Live music Friday thru Sunday; Winter Frost Ice Wine Cocktail; Ice Wine Progressive Dinner- each Friday evening prior to the festival.
Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, 5585 State Route 307, Harpersfield Township
Appetizer: Fire & Ice Chicken Meatball with Sweet and Spicy Glaze.
Featured wine: 2021 Vidal Blanc Ice wine, Sparkling Moscato.
Saturdays: Chef Kelly Zahn on the outdoor grill with sweet and spicy skewers; outside fire pits.
More: Live music Friday through Sunday; lunch and dinner ice wine featured menu; Wine-O Wine Bingo; Ice Wine Pop-up Bar.
Grand River Cellars Winery & Restaurant, 5750 Madison Road, Madison Township
Appetizer: Gnocchi with Dried Apricot, Brown Butter and Sage.
Featured Wine: 2020 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine, Maple Ice Wine or Port Style Dessert Wine.
Saturdays: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m: Ice Wine Candles; Ice Wine Cotton Candy, Rock Candy, and Ice Wine Candy Apples by Pucker Up Candy Shop
More: Ice Wine Marshmallow Roast All Day; Ice Wine Martins and Specialty Cocktails; live music Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons.
Laurello Vineyards, 4573 State Route 307 E., Geneva Township
Appetizer: Salted Caramel Ice Cream & Chocolate Explosion Ice Cream.
Featured wine: 2020 Simply Mad Habanero and 2021 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine.
Saturdays: Inland Sea Beach Glass Jewelry; Artisan made felted accessories.
More: Live entertainment Fridays AND Saturdays; wood-fired specialty pizzas paired with ice wine.
Cask 307, 7259 Warner Road, Madison Township Appetizer: Cinnamon Scone.
Featured wine: Rose of Vidal Blanc Ice Wine and Chardonnay; Raspberry Rose Mule Cocktail.
Saturdays: Outside Ice Wine Pop-up Bar, Smores Roast’ Fire Pit
South River Vineyards, 6062 South River Road, Geneva
Appetizer: Infused Truffle by F Bomb.
Featured wine: 2022 Concord Ice Wine and 2019 Blush Ice Wine (Blend of Chambourcin & Vidal Blanc).
Red Eagle Distillery, 6202 S River Road W, Geneva Township
Appetizer: Black Door Tavern Signature Smoked BBQ Ice Wine Pulled Pork Tacos with Pickled Slaw.
Featured: Planter’s Punch with ’21 Vidal Ice Wine and Red Eagle Maple Rum.
More: Visit Black Door Tavern next door featuring Shelter from the Storm Tasting: taste a rotating selection of the legendary ice wines of Ontario’s Niagara region. Four tastes $50.