Inniskillin Dessert
Niagara's frozen-grape original, poured in Commack for decades.
The story behind Inniskillin
Inniskillin was founded on July 31, 1975, by Donald Ziraldo and Karl Kaiser, when the Niagara Peninsula estate received Ontario's first commercial winery license since Prohibition. The first commercial Icewine came in 1984, picked by hand in the middle of the night at minus 8 to minus 10 Celsius.
Canada's VQA rules forbid artificial freezing, so the grapes hang into winter and press out roughly 15 percent of a normal harvest. The 1989 vintage took the Grand Prix d'Honneur at Vinexpo Bordeaux in 1991, and that single result put Canadian fine wine on the map. We have carried Inniskillin for years because nothing else on the shelf answers the same question.
Explore the Inniskillin range
Five expressions, all real Inniskillin, from the 187mL starter bottles to the red Cabernet Franc Icewine. Half bottles are the standard format for a reason.
| Expression | Type | Proof / ABV | Tasting notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vidal Icewine 187mL | White Icewine | 19 | Tropical fruit, apricot, honey; stainless steel, no oak |
| Riesling Ice Wine 187mL | White Icewine | 18 to 19 | Lime, citrus, bracing acidity cutting the sugar |
| Gold Vidal Icewine 375mL | Oaked white Icewine | 19 to 20 | French oak adds vanilla, spice, maple depth |
| Riesling Ice Wine 375mL | White Icewine | 18 to 19 | Classic vinifera style, vibrant and crisp |
| Cab Franc Icewine 375mL | Red Icewine | 19 | Rhubarb, strawberry, dark chocolate; rare red style |
Which Inniskillin is right for you?
Inniskillin pricing tracks the harvest, not the label. The 187mL bottles of Vidal and Riesling Ice Wine run $33.99 each, an honest way to try the house style without committing to a half bottle. Step up to 375mL and the Gold Vidal and Riesling Ice Wine both sit at $69.99, while the Cabernet Franc Icewine, the rarest of the five, is $89.99. Every one of these is a dessert pour, so a half bottle serves a table, not a glass.
Oak and maple depth that stands up to fruit tarts and blue cheese.
Small format, classic honeyed Vidal, low commitment at $33.99.
Rhubarb and dark chocolate notes that read familiar to red fans.