How can you make ice wine at home?
True ice wine cannot be made at home, because it requires grapes that freeze naturally on the vine. At home you can make an ice-wine style sweet wine by freezing grapes or juice after picking, which is sometimes called icebox wine, or use a ready-made kit. It will be sweet and concentrated, but not the same as real ice wine.
Free download
Home Bar Storage Chart (PDF): How long liqueurs, spirits, wine and mixers last, opened and unopened. 25 rows, each with its source.
Thank you
Your chart is ready
We use your email only for this download.Also free:
Milk and Dairy Storage Chart (PDF)Juice, Soda and Water Storage Chart (PDF)Coffee, Tea and Hot Drinks Storage Chart (PDF)Drink Strength, Calories and Units Cheat Sheet (PDF)Want the full pack? About 10 printable sheets: a larger chart for each drink type, a “has it gone off?” checklist, date labels, a party planner and an inventory sheet.
In this article
Can you make real ice wine at home?
No, not in the strict sense. Ice wine comes from grapes left on the vine well past a normal harvest and picked only after they freeze naturally. Wine Spectator calls this a stressful, expensive process, with risks from birds, disease, rain, hail and mold. That is why it needs a cold climate and a commercial vineyard.
What you can make instead
Wine made from grapes that are frozen after they are picked is sometimes called icebox wine. Wine Spectator notes that picking first and then freezing bypasses some of the risk. The result can be a sweet dessert wine, but it is a different product from true ice wine. Rules on the words ice wine on a label can differ by country.
Options for a home winemaker
- Ice wine style kit: the simplest route; follow the manufacturer’s directions.
- Frozen grapes or juice: concentrate the sugar, then ferment as for a sweet wine. Success depends on controlling fermentation, so use a proper winemaking guide.
- Buy a bottle: read the label wording and the producer’s description to see how the grapes were frozen.
What to expect
Expect a sweet, rich wine, usually served in small glasses, chilled, with cheese or fruit desserts. The depth of a natural ice wine, which comes from long hang time, is hard to match.
Safety and practicalities
- Sanitize all equipment before use.
- Do not seal a fermenting container tightly; use an airlock.
- Check local rules if you plan to sell or give away homemade wine.
This page explains the difference and does not give a full recipe. General information; alcohol content varies.
People also ask
What is the difference between ice wine and icebox wine?
Ice wine is made from grapes frozen naturally on the vine. Icebox wine uses grapes frozen after picking, which bypasses some of the risk of waiting on the vine.
Can I make ice wine in my freezer?
You can make an ice-wine style wine by freezing grapes or juice, but it is not true ice wine.
Why is ice wine expensive?
Leaving grapes on the vine until they freeze is risky and labor-intensive, with possible losses to birds, rot and weather.
Sources
About · How we verify this · Editorial policy · Corrections
What would help you most next?
One tap. Anonymous. It helps us decide what to build.
Thank you. The free charts above are yours to keep.
