If you love the Sauternes wines of France, the “stickies” of Australia, the fine Port wines of Portugal, or the sweet ice wines of Canada, do we have great news for you.
According to a press release sent to VinesseTODAY, there’s a new source of high-quality ice wine: Iceland.
The debut release of Reykjavik Rose is scheduled to hit the shelves of high-end supermarkets and fine wine retailers today. It comes from Fjord Cellars, which is based in the town of Melrakkasletta.
“We believe in simplicity in the cellar,” said Olafur Skarphedinsson, the proprietor of Fjord Cellars, when contacted by VinesseTODAY. “For this reason, we are not dealing with grapes at all. They wouldn’t grow here anyway.”
Many American wineries make wine out of fruit other than grapes, such as apples, cherries and assorted berries. Which fruit is Fjord Cellars using?
“No fruit,” Skarphedinsson said.
Then perhaps Fjord Cellars is making wine out of honey – a concoction known as mead in the United States.
“No honey,” Skarphedinsson said.
No grapes. No apples. No cherries. No berries. No honey.
Then what is Skarphedinsson using to make his wine?
“Ice,” he replied. “We are making our ice wine from something we have in abundance here in Iceland: ice.”
But ice has no flavor, unless you’re speaking of yellow ice. And Skarphedinsson’s wine (we are relieved to report) is not yellow. So what does the Fjord Reykjavik Rose taste like?
“Taste?” Skarphedinsson answered with a confused expression. “There is no taste. We want Reykjavik Rose to be thought of as a refreshing wine – one that, above all else, quenches the thirst.”
Wine that quenches the thirst, but has no flavor? That sounds a lot like water, an interviewer suggested.
“Exactly!” Skarphedinsson replied.
