Perfect pairing: Canadian ice wine and maple syrup cookies

Hey foodies! Today, I’m super excited to share with you one of the most amazing flavor combinations I’ve ever tried—Canadian ice wine paired with maple syrup cookies. Trust me, this is a match made in heaven that you don’t want to miss!

A Little Bit of Background on Canadian Ice Wine

Let’s start with the star of the show—Canadian ice wine. Now, ice wine actually originated in Germany, but Canada has really taken it to the next level and become the world’s largest producer. The story goes that the first ice wine in Canada was made by Walter Hainle, a German immigrant, way back in 1792 in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. But it was the Inniskillin Winery in 1984, under the guidance of their Austrian co-owner Karl Kaiser, that really put Canadian ice wine on the map. And then, in 1991, when Inniskillin’s 1989 Vidal ice wine won the Grand Prix d’Honneur at Vinexpo, Canada’s ice wine industry just took off!

Canada has some pretty ideal conditions for making ice wine. Provinces like Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, and Nova Scotia all produce it, but Ontario is the big player, making up over 80% of the country’s ice wine production. And there’s this cool organization called the Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) in Ontario and British Columbia that sets strict rules to make sure the ice wine is top-notch.

How is Canadian Ice Wine Made?

Making ice wine is no easy feat, let me tell you. First, they have to wait until the grapes are frozen on the vine, which usually means waiting until winter. The grapes are then picked at night, and they have to be done by 10 am the next morning. Only the best, non-rotten grapes are chosen. When they press these frozen grapes, it’s like squeezing out a super-concentrated juice. And here’s the thing—it takes a lot of pressure because the juice is so thick. But the result is this amazing liquid that’s packed with sugar, acid, and all sorts of delicious flavors.

After that, the concentrated juice goes through a process of being clarified, then yeast is added, and it’s fermented at a cool temperature, around 10 – 12°C, for a few weeks. Once the fermentation is done, the wine is aged in barrels for a few months, then it’s clarified again, frozen, filtered to get rid of any bacteria, and finally bottled. Phew! It’s a long process, but boy, is it worth it.

Different Types of Canadian Ice Wine

There are two main types of Canadian ice wine—white and red. The white ice wines are often made from Vidal or Riesling grapes. Vidal ice wines are a beautiful golden color and smell like a mix of apricots, honey, and peaches, with a hint of lychee. They taste so rich and full, with a combination of sweet tropical fruits and a bit of citrus. Riesling ice wines, on the other hand, are a lighter golden color. They have this intense aroma of mangoes and passion fruit, and when you taste them, you get a lovely balance of sweet apricot and apple flavors, with a refreshing citrusy kick at the end.

For the red ice wines, they’re usually made from Cabernet Franc or Cabernet Sauvignon. Cabernet Franc ice wine has a delicate pink-red color and smells of strawberries, cranberries, and cherries. It has this interesting flavor where the sweetness is balanced out by a bit of a peppery taste, making it really complex and delicious. Cabernet Sauvignon ice wine is a deep, beautiful ruby color. It has a strong aroma of blackberries, black strawberries, and raspberries. When you take a sip, you can taste a wonderful balance of different fruit acids and sweetness, and the flavor just lingers on your palate for a long time.

The Magic of Pairing Ice Wine with Maple Syrup Cookies

 

Now, let’s talk about these maple syrup cookies. Oh my goodness, they’re like a little slice of heaven. The ingredients are simple—you’ve got 100 grams of unsalted butter, 25 grams of powdered sugar, 45 grams of eggs, 50 grams of maple syrup, 100 grams of all-purpose flour, 100 grams of whole-wheat flour, half a teaspoon of baking powder, and a little bit of egg white. But when you put them all together, magic happens.

You start by softening the butter at room temperature and mixing it up. Then you add the powdered sugar and mix some more. Next, you pour in that delicious maple syrup. After that, you sift in the all-purpose flour and baking powder and add the whole-wheat flour to make a dough. You roll out the dough on a piece of plastic wrap that’s dusted with flour, cover it with a bit more flour, and roll it to about 0.5 cm thick. Then you put it in the fridge for 20 minutes. Once it’s chilled, you take it out, cut out shapes with a cookie cutter, and put the cookie dough on a baking sheet lined with foil. Bake it in a preheated oven at 160°C for about 10-15 minutes, and then just let it sit in the oven for another 5 minutes after you turn it off.

When you take a bite of one of these warm, freshly-baked maple syrup cookies and wash it down with a sip of Canadian ice wine, it’s like a party in your mouth. The sweetness of the cookie pairs perfectly with the sweet, yet balanced, flavor of the ice wine. If you’re having a white ice wine, the fruity notes of the wine really complement the maple flavor of the cookie. And if it’s a red ice wine, the rich, complex flavors of the wine and the warm, cozy maple taste of the cookie just meld together in the most amazing way.

How to Enjoy Canadian Ice Wine and Maple Syrup Cookies

The best time to enjoy this wonderful pairing is in the evening. You want to chill the ice wine in the fridge between 4 and 10°C before you serve it. And before you pour the wine, let it sit out for a few minutes to breathe a bit. Use small wine glasses to really savor the flavors. And make sure you don’t eat anything too spicy, minty, or chocolatey before you start sipping and munching.

When you’re ready to taste the ice wine, first look at its color. The white ice wines should have a beautiful golden hue, with younger ones being lighter and older ones a bit darker. Then give it a little swirl in the glass and take a whiff. You should be able to smell all sorts of wonderful fruits and maybe even a hint of flowers. Finally, take a sip, let the wine roll around in your mouth, and feel all the different flavors. Do the same with the cookie—really taste the maple flavor and how it combines with the ice wine.

So, there you have it, folks! Canadian ice wine and maple syrup cookies are a combination that you have to try. Whether you’re having a fancy dinner party or just a quiet night at home, this pairing is sure to make your taste buds do a happy dance.