LIQUOR: Inniskillin to launch first Antarctic wine - Worldwide Exclusive
Published: 01/04/03
1 April 2003; Source: Northern Echo
By Our special correspondent
CANADA. Icewine experts, Ontario-based Inniskillin, have extended the boundaries of grape growing with the launch of an icewine from the company's new estate vineyard on the Graham Land portion of the Antarctic Peninsula. It will be launched in duty free later this month.
For its first commercial harvest, Inniskillin workers travelled to the vineyards along with scientific teams from the US and Britain that are based at the nearby Palmer and Rothera research centres. The grapes were harvested by hand and shipped frozen to the winery on Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada, where they were pressed and fermented.
Despite the short growing season in Antarctica, Inniskillin winemaker Karl Kaiser said conditions for icewine production are close to ideal. “The soil is very stony and infertile, which stresses the vines. And the round the clock sunlight during summer means we get great ripeness despite the cool temperatures that keep acidity levels right where we want them.
“On top of that, we don’t have to worry about deer or birds decimating the crop, like might happen back in Canada. As long as you prune the vines to hold the bunches high, the penguins aren’t a problem,” added
Kaiser.
The new line will be handled in duty free by US company Imagination Unlimited International (IUI). Owner Lars Johansson, speaking exclusively to The Moodie Report, said: "With a little Imagination, the Antarctica Inniskillin will be available, on a limited annual base, on April 1 each year from IUI / Inniskillin! The MSRSP (Minimum Suggested Retail Selling Price) for a 375 ml bottle in a luxurious gift presentation with two signature Inniskillin Riedel Icewine Crystal Glasses is US$1000.00 - air freighted CIF cost is $ 500.00 per bottle/presentation."
The debut release from the exceptional vintage retails at an ice-cool US$1,000 for 375ml in duty free. But company president Donald Ziraldo expects prices to come down as production expands. Speaking at a penguin-suit reception introducing the wine, he said, “Land is exceptionally inexpensive. And once we get a South Pole winery up and running, processing costs should come down as well.”
Comment: This latest extraordinary launch by Inniskillin proves they are no fools as the April 1 introduction comes just before the key Japanese holiday season. While the US$1,000 price-point may deter some, the unlikely success story of the original dessert wine in DFS stores shows that anything is possible. It just takes a little Imagination.
Inniskilin co-founder Donald Ziraldo enjoys a glass of the first Antarctic vintage ice wine with a local resident (left)
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