Ice wine ruined by warm winter

A warm winter means that for the first time in years Germany’s vineyards will produce no ice wine, which is made from grapes that have been left to freeze on the vine.

The German Wine Institute said yesterday that none of the country’s wine regions had experienced the necessary low temperature of -7C.

Freezing the grapes before they are crushed concentrates the sugar and leads to an intensely sweet, golden wine often served with dessert.

It has always been an niche product and is increasingly expensive due to low volumes produced by farmers.