First in Belgium

Hoenshof Winery launches the very first ice wine!

Professor Ghislain Houben, whose wines were previously voted "Belgium's Best," has this time created 3 ice wines. The first Belgian ones, in fact. The Professor took his idea from Canada and applied it in Limburg, in Haspengouw.

What is ice wine?

Ice wine is a sweet dessert wine that can be made from many types of fruit. Apple, pear, and grape are the most common. To give you an idea, in one 37.5cl bottle there are fifteen kilos of fruit! Combined with the complex production method, this makes this extremely elegant wine a true gem.

The fruit is only harvested when the outside temperature is below -6°C. The grapes, apples, or pears go immediately to the press after harvest. The juice, which contains a high sugar content, does not freeze – the water does. The ice crystals remain in the press, thus separating from the concentrated juice.

Two different methods are used:

• cryo-extraction: the fruit is stored after harvest in cold storage facilities, where it is frozen. Once the fruit is frozen, this mass is pressed. Then, the juice is fermented.
• cryo-concentration: with this method, the apples are harvested and immediately pressed. Then, the juice is frozen, which creates a separation in the juice between the water and the sugars. Then, the concentrated sugars are fermented.

"Such a method ensures an incredible flavor intensity" — Professor Ghislain Houben

What stands out in the production of ice wine is the very long fermentation time. This can easily last 4 to 5 months. Due to the high sugar content, the yeast cells multiply very slowly.

The pear, apple, and grape ice wine are available at our establishment! We had the chance to taste them yesterday and it must be said... they are jewels!