I hope you’ve been enjoying this series on ice wine, one of the more decadent options out there. If you missed Parts 1 and Part 2, check them out first. In this last, the third post, we will be exploring food pairings for ice wine.
Ice Wine Is Sweet; The Food Shouldn't Be
The primary rule to follow is to ensure that ice wine, which is going to already be quite sweet, is not sweeter than the food you are serving. Ice wines work especially well with salty dishes; the sweetness softens the salt in the food.
Enjoy a cool Inniskillin with an appetizer like salty nuts, anchovy crackers, antipasto paste, or black olive tapenade. On the more savory side of things, it will pair well with nuts, foie gras, and soft cheeses. If you’re going to serve it with a meal you might try lobster terrine, pâté, Thai and Asian Cuisine, smoked Salmon, salty Cod—experiment with your palate to see what works. If you’re up for the challenge, ice wine can, on occasion, be served with a spicy dish because of its high acidity.
A common mistake is to pair ice wine with a sweet milk chocolate dessert but this type of pairing hides the flavors of the wine; it is better to pair it up with a dark, bitter chocolate desert.
As a fallback, always remember to pair the weight and flavor intensity of the wine with the food you are serving.
Ice Wine Serving Size
Ice wine, while not only expensive, is high in alcohol content, and is also extremely sweet, so you should only serve a small amount; approximately half a normal sized wine glass.
Ice wine should be served chilled between 6 to 8 degrees Celsius). Basically bring it out of the fridge right before you serve it. After being opened it can last for around three to five days.
Ice wine can also be aged, depending on the grape. Merlot, Chardonnay, or Cabernet franc ice wine is made to drink now. Vidal, on the other hand, can be aged for 5 to 7 years, and Riesling ice wine can be aged beyond 10.
Thanks for reading this 3-Part blog series on ice wine.
