ICE WINE

Frozen cab franc grapes sit in bins as temperatures hovered around ten degrees with winds gusting near 30 miles per hour during an ice wine harvest on Wednesday morning at Chateau Chantal on Old Mission Peninsula. Ice wine requires temperatures below 17 degrees to freeze the water inside the grapes while they are still on the vine, concentrating the flavors. Winemaker Brian Hosmer said it was the first time the winery was making ice wine from cab franc grapes, but that they also plan to harvest a different vineyard when conditions are right to make ice wine with a white blend primarily made with Riesling.

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