Friday, March 29, 2024

Timer

Students learn icewine harvesting

First Published:

[projekktor id=’17242′]

(Updated) The teaching winery at Niagara College is giving students the cold, hard facts about harvesting icewine.

The students were out at 6 this morning in the freezing temperatures to begin the long process of picking the grapes. By law, the temperature must be minus 8 degrees celsius or lower in order for the grapes to be picked for ice wine.

Some had to be cut off the vines, while others were removed by hand. Niagara College professor Ron Giesbrecht explains why ice wine is so expensive.

“When you take them into the winery they are really low yielding. They may get 700, 750 litres of a ton of grapes at regular harvest time. You are getting 150, 200, 250 depending on conditions for ice wine. You get a lot less yield.”

After the grapes are picked they go into a press, originally designed for olive pressing in italy. They stomp the grapes in the barrels to fit in as many grapes as possible in one press load to send to the next machines.

Small drips of juice will come out under high pressure. Once the juice settles it’s warmed up and fermented.

The only thing added is some yeast otherwise the grapes do all the work. The students will be back to learn all about the pressing process throughout the afternoon.

More Top News

Ontario school boards suing TikTok, Meta, and Snapchat

Four of Ontario's largest school boards are suing the parent companies of Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok. The boards are alleging the social media platforms...

Evening weather forecast for March 28, 2024

Shelly Marriage shares the forecast for March 28, 2024 and the days ahead.

Experts warn drivers to be careful on eclipse day

Researchers from Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto are warning drivers to beware in the hours before and after the big solar eclipse on...

Premier Ford rejects Ottawa’s bill of rights and protection funds for tenants

Premier Doug Ford is going along with the Quebec government in rejecting Ottawa's attempt to help renters. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gave...

Hamilton mayor intends to use strong mayor powers for affordable housing

Residents and businesses near two Stoney Creek parking lots are disappointed after Hamilton mayor Andrea Horwath decided to use her strong mayor powers to...

Date set for inquest into death of man during Halton police shootout in 2018

A provincial coroner has set a date for an inquest into a man's death after a shootout with Halton police almost six years ago. Ahmadu...

Ontario school boards suing TikTok, Meta, and Snapchat

Four of Ontario's largest school boards are suing the parent companies of Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok. The boards are alleging the social media platforms...