Winter's Gift

Wine Born of Winter

There’s a kind of magic that happens at Johnson Estate when winter arrives — and no wine captures it more beautifully than our ice wine. Unlike most wines that are picked at harvest, ice wine comes from grapes left on the vine well into winter’s cold. Only in places where the climate truly delivers sustained freezing temperatures — like Lake Erie’s snowy winters — can this remarkable wine be made.

Harvesting the Moment

After the autumn harvest and once the leaves have fallen, we net the remaining grapes to protect them from birds and wait for nature’s signal: nights that dip to around 12°F or colder. When the fruit freezes solid, the juice inside becomes intensely concentrated. Our crew picks these frozen grapes by hand in the heart of winter and brings them straight to the press, capturing the pure essence of the vine in every drop.

It’s a labor of patience and care — one that can only happen when cold weather and timing align just right.

Authentic Ice Wine Since 1995

Johnson Estate has been producing authentic ice wine for decades. This means that every bottle labeled “Ice Wine” was made from grapes that ripened and froze naturally on the vine, not frozen after picking. That distinction matters — it’s what makes true ice wine rare, expressive, and unmistakably connected to place.

What Makes It Special

Ice wine is known for its lush richness balanced by bright acidity. Because only the concentrated sugars are pressed from the frozen grapes, the result is a wine with intense flavor, elegant sweetness, and layers of complexity that reward both sipping and pairing.