GENEVA, Ohio — Ferrante Winery, located in the heart of Geneva’s wine country, is coming back to Ohio from San Francisco with a big award that proves what we already know: locally produced ice wine has a place in national competitions.
Ferrante Winery’s 2017 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine was named Specialty Sweepstakes Winner, one of five sweepstakes winners out of 6,700 entries at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, according to a release.
"The Ferrante Vidal Ice Wine was simply spectacular from start to finish--beautiful aroma, luscious taste, perfect balance, and lingering aftertaste. During the sweepstakes round I could tell that the other judges were as impressed as I was--and for good reason," said Jim Trezise, President, WineAmerica and Professional Wine Judge, in a news release.
The wine competition ended on Jan. 10, with over 65 judges representing various North American wine regions.
This year, Ferrante got a late start making their famous ice wine. The conditions had to be just right.
“It has to be frozen in the vineyards, so the grapes have to freeze,” said Nick Ferrante, the winemaker at the winery.
This year’s harvest is one of the latest they’ve had since 2012, which Ferrante said will affect the volume of wine they can make.
He’s hoping they’ll produce about 300 gallons this season, which is good enough for him.
Ferrante will join the Grand River Valley’s Ice Wine Festival where local wineries showcase their own take on ice wine. Other wineries participating in the festival include:
- Debonne Vineyards
- Grand River Cellars Winery
- Laurello Vineyards
- St. Joseph Vineyards
- Cask 307
The Grand River Valley's Ice Wine Festival happens on March 7, 14 and 21.
RELATED: Why the ice wine harvest at Ferrante Winery got a late start this year
