2016 Fiori Delle Stelle -8^o Ice Wine

Estate Grown and Bottled
Finger Lakes

The long, cold winters of the Finger Lakes region provide the ideal conditions for our authentic ice wine.  We hand pick and press frozen grapes in frigid weather to yield a trickle of sweet nectar with a stunning array of possible fruit flavors depending on the vintage.  Our 2016 Fiori -8 ^o Ice Wine is a full bodied explosion of sweetness and stone fruit flavors with a touch of locally made spirits for a smooth, warm finish.

Viticulture

Grapes.  81% Muscat Ottonel, 11% Riesling, 8% Vidal Blanc

Harvest date. December 15, 2016

Brix at harvest.  36.1^o Muscat Ottonel, 39.6 ^o Riesling, 36.3 ^o Vidal Blanc

Viticulture notes.  Vidal Blanc is a French-American white wine grape developed by Jean Louis Vidal in France in the 1930s. Muscat Ottonel is a European Wine of the Muscat family, notable for its use in dessert wines; it has a light finish with a beautiful floral aromatic start. Riesling, a German grape, is one of the most versatile grapes grown in the Finger Lakes region. Throughout the season, our ice wine vines are not thinned to help maintain the high acidic nature that Finger Lakes grapes are known for. We produce our renowned -8 ^o Ice Wine using the authentic German Eiswein method leaving the grapes on the vine past normal harvest and into the winter. When the temperature dips below 18^oF (-8^oC) for the first time, usually in December or early January, we hand pick and press the frozen grapes outdoors.

Winemaking

Winemaker.  Matt Cassavaugh

Fermentation. Stainless steel at low temperature

Alcohol by volume. 17.5%

Residual sugar.  17.3%

IRF scale.  Sweet

Aging. Stainless steel

Bottling date. January 29^th 2018

Bottle volume. 375ml

Production.  24 cases

Wine series.  Fiori/Winemaker

Vegan.  Yes

TTBID.  15071-001-000075

UPC.  0-89815-01723-6

Year first produced.  2015 (2013 vintage)

Winemaking notes. The frozen grapes are pressed together, outdoors in a classic basket press, producing a sweet syrup which we ferment at cool temperatures with special yeast to maintain a bright nose and beautiful aromas.  Fermentation proceeds very slowly, often persisting through the winter and into spring. Once the juice has fermented, we add locally made spirits into the finished product for its unique, warm finish.

Enjoying our Fiori -8 ^o Ice Wine

Availability. 

• At our winery in Fairport
• At CasaLarga.com for direct shipment to residences and workplaces in 40 states.

Aging. Store at cool temperature (approx.55º), out of direct sunlight.  As the wine ages in the bottle in your cellar, a tiny bit of air slowly percolates through the cork, which micro-oxygenates the wine, darkening the color slightly, eventually turning a beautiful gold hue.  Its flavors also slowly age, from bright fruit flavors like citrus, peach and pineapple, toward “darker” flavors like apricot, raisins and honey. In addition, the alcohol content of the wine enhances, adding a rich warmth to the end of the wine.     

Serving temp.  45-50ºF 

Tasting notes.  Our Fiori -8 Ice Wine is a lusciously sweet explosion of honey, apricot, and subtle apple notes followed by a long, warm, satisfying finish. 

Pairing suggestions.  Rich appetizers like blue-veined cheeses and foie gras; drizzled over cheesecake, Crème Brulee and ice cream, as well as fruit or nut pies.