Which statements are true about ice wine production?

• A. It can only be produced in a few regions where weather allows
• B. Vines used must be winter hardy and produce grapes with resilient skins
• C. Freeze-thaw cycles are thought to be important for the development of typical ice wine character
• D. All of the above

Answer: (D)

Ice wine production hinges on freezing the grapes on the vine, which concentrates sugars, acids, and flavors. Because this relies on consistently cold winters, only regions with the right weather patterns can reliably produce true ice wine, so it’s limited to a few areas where these conditions occur.

Vines must be winter-hardy and have resilient skins to endure the freezing and to protect the grapes from damage while on the vine. This hardy, thick-skinned grape material helps the fruit survive until harvest when it is pressed while frozen.

The characteristic intensity of ice wine is tied to the water in the grapes freezing and leaving behind a highly concentrated must; discussions about freeze-thaw behavior acknowledge that seasonal temperature fluctuations can influence how much concentration and extraction occur, though freezing on the vine is the defining step.

Together, these factors describe true aspects of ice wine production, so all statements are true.