12.17.2008
Unseasonably cold temperatures well below freezing in Eastern Washington this week allowed Chateau Ste. Michelle winemakers to harvest Riesling ice wine Tuesday (Dec. 16) in 0 degree temperatures.
Weather conditions have enabled Chateau Ste. Michelle to harvest ice wine only six times in the Washington winery’s 40-year history. (Previous vintages were produced in 1978, 1995, 2002, 2003, 2006 and 2008.) Chateau Ste. Michelle was one of the first producers of ice wine in North America when it released its 1978 Ice Wine. Ice wine is rare because it requires a hard freeze below 14 degrees.
Read the full Press release.
