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Ferrante Winery embraces arctic air during harvesting time for ice wine

Posted at 9:25 AM, Dec 13, 2017
and last updated 2017-12-13 12:57:21-05

A Geneva winery is embracing the frigid temperatures in Northeast Ohio by harvesting a wine only a few regions can make.

Owners of Ferrante Winery are plucking frozen grapes from the vine to make ice wine.

When they're done harvesting about eight to 10 tons of grapes for their ice wine, they hope to yield about 700 gallons of wine.

Ice wine is particularly difficult to harvest because they have to ferment the grapes down to 20 percent residual sugar.

The grapes have to be frozen solid when they're picked after about two to three days of cold air.

The winter temperatures and Lake Erie help the grapes maintain their acidity, causing the grapes to produce a sweeter flavor.