This annual festival celebrates and showcases award-winning ice wines made in the traditional German eiswein method. In order to qualify as a true ice wine, the wines must be produced from grapes that have been frozen on the vine, not picked and then artificially frozen.
One of the highlights of the festival is its culinary experience. Guests will sample ice wine-inspired cuisine made by RIT Catering. Attendees will have a chance to sample each of the culinary creations, along with other gourmet foods and products at the festival.
A host of indoor and outdoor activities round out the festival: ice wine and food pairings, vineyard horse-drawn wagon rides, the outdoor Luv Shack, a cocktail ice luge, winery tours, outdoor fire pit, seminars and live entertainment. Attendees will also receive a commemorative glass with admission.
So far, Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards and Schulze Vineyards & Winery will join Casa Larga Vineyards for ice wine tastings and Black Button Distilling for sprits tastings, with more wineries and local producers to be announced in the months to come. Crush Beer & Wine Tours is providing a parking lot shuttle and Heberle Stables conducts the horse-drawn rides through the vineyards.
Tickets are available in time for the holidays for $65 each and 2 for $100 at the Wine Shop on Turk Hill Road in Fairport, at Wegmans and online at
www.casalarga.com through December 31, 2017. From January 1 through February 23, 2018 tickets will be $65 each and 2 for $120. If available, tickets are $75 at the door. For group sales, call Cathy Fabretti at 585-223-4210 x121.