Icewine Martini for Two

Icewine Martini (from the LCBO magazine)

Today Canada is one of the top producers in the world of premium Icewine, but it was Germany that first invented it in the late 1700s. Subtly sweet and seductive, this drink features Icewine, and is mixed with vodka and club soda.

No one can control Mother Nature. German winemakers experienced her wrath first hand, when frost came early, leaving their grapes frozen and ruined, or so they thought. One clever soul decided to pick some of the frozen grapes, and realized their sweetness. Soon the grapes were pressed and the first Icewine was made.

Almost a century later in Ontario, Karl Kaiser, an Australian-born chemist, and Donald Ziraldo, a young Italian-Canadian, joined forces to open Inniskillin Winery. In 1984, this dynamic duo made their first successful Inniskillin Icewine. In time, the Niagara regions Icewine Festival began, and now glamorous galas and winery tastings are hosted each year. It is believed this is where The Icewine Martini made by Inniskillin was first introduced and became an instant classic.

Ingredients

1 oz Icewine
1 1/2 oz Premium Vodka
Splash of club soda
Frozen grape

I had gotten my wife a small bottle (a miniature) of Icewine as a stocking stuffer at Christmas. When we saw this recipe we realized that we now had something good to do with the Icewine.

Two of them before dinner and the Super Bowl was perfect!