Satrapezo Icewine

The fully frozen grapes in Rkatsiteli southern blocks of Kondoli vineyards and selected old Rkatsiteli vineyards in Ikalto and Gulgula villages in Kakheti have been picked in early December, when the outside temperature fell down to -9°C. At these temperatures the water portion of each grape separates from sugar, flavor and acid components. The water freezes and crystallizes leaving the other compounds as suspended liquid drops among the water crystals. The grapes were hand harvested early in the morning in small boxes, hand sorted in our winery, all the damaged grapes were removed and remaining fruit was gently pressed in basket press. The fermentation was held for 2 months period in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature of 16-18°C. Afterwards wine was kept cold at around 0°C for 6 months. Light filtration was complemented by bottling and 6 months bottle aging in our cellar before the release.