Late harvest wine is known for its delicious sweet flavour. There are a number of stories behind the discovery of this wine-making method but the one that stands out the most is that of the French. It is said that a chateau owner embarked on a trip and told his workers not to harvest the grapes until he returned. When he finally arrived home, the grapes in his vineyard had been affected by a fungus that caused them to shrivel up. Despite this unappetizing appearance, the shriveled grapes were plucked from the vines and turned into wine. Surprisingly, the wine had an amazing sweet taste. From that day, the chateau owner insisted on harvesting his grapes only after they had shriveled up. It’s important to note that, although a fungus is responsible for causing the water to evaporate from the grapes, it is a friendly variety that poses no health risks.
One of the most popular and sometimes most expensive types of late harvest wines is ice wine. These grapes are harvested during the winter while they are in a frozen state. They are pressed by stronger presses than those used in regular wine-making.
When serving ice wine or any other kind of late harvest wine, it’s important to take the sweetness into consideration. This is not the kind of wine that you can drink in large amounts. They are often served chilled and in small (almost miniature) wine glasses. Only a few sips are enjoyed at a time and it’s customary to enjoy just one or two glasses at the most.
These wines are often served to guests without being paired with any snacks or foods in particular. That said, many wine enthusiasts prefer serving such a sweet wine after dinner. It’s particularly appealing to those who enjoy wine but may shy away from rich desserts. So, instead of tucking into some pie or pudding, they will sip on this delightful drink. Serving this wine after meals also means that your guests will not be inclined to over indulge. It serves the purpose much like a glass of fine cognac after a decadent meal.