Inniskillin Icewine Graces the Nobel Peace Prize Dinner

By / Magazine / December 14th, 2009 / 2

Inniskillin Wines is pleased to announce that the Inniskillin Vidal Icewine was selected and served on December 10th at the Nobel Peace Prize dinner at which United States President Barack Obama received the 2009 award. The Inniskillin 2003 Gold Oak aged Vidal Icewine was paired to a menu created especially for the occasion.

Barack Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway on December 10, 2009 in the presence of the King of Norway, Harald V, world leaders and dignitaries. The Oslo award ceremony is traditionally followed by a five-course banquet at Oslo’s historic hotel The Grand, in the Mirror Room. As part of this prestigious evening, Inniskillin Vidal Icewine was selected and served at the dinner. It was served with Caramel and Chocolate glazed Banana Mousse and Peanut Meringue.

The decision for Inniskillin Vidal Icewine to be included at the Nobel Peace Prize dinner stems from the selection made by the Nobel Committee and a tasting panel at the Grand Hotel. A trial dinner took place and the wines that were the most fitting were selected, Inniskillin 2003 Gold Oak aged Vidal Icewine from Niagara was one of them.

Inniskillin Co-founder and Icewine maker Karl Kaiser who produced this vintage of Icewine comments, “I would never have dreamt that when I started making Icewine in 1984 that it would ever be served at a Nobel Peace Prize Dinner. I am particularly thrilled that this Icewine was chosen to be part of the dinner honouring President Barack Obama.”

When Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, died in 1896 his will established five prizes, including one for peace. The Swedish-born inventor’s will instructed that the “Nobel Peace Prize” be awarded in the Norwegian capital of Oslo each year. Therefore, this prestigious international event is held every 10th of December and includes the award ceremony followed by a luxurious five-course banquet.

Long-coveted by wine lovers as an aperitif or as a complement to a special dessert, Icewine is often referred to as Canada’s ‘Liquid Gold’. Though Icewine’s roots can be traced to centuries old German winemakers, there is nothing more quintessentially Canadian than this luscious luxury borne of patience and sub zero bravura. Grapes are left on the vine well into the winter months to concentrate and intensify the flavours when the grape’s water content freezes, thaws then dehydrates. The Icewine grapes are harvested by hand and with exacting precision only when the temperature hits -10° Celsius.

Inniskillin Icewine is now enjoyed in 69 countries around the world and has become a benchmark wine in home entertaining. Founded by Donald Ziraldo and Karl Kaiser, Inniskillin Wines has wineries and vineyards in the Niagara Peninsula in Ontario and the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia. It was granted the first winery license in Ontario since Prohibition.  

In Niagara, Karl Kaiser continued to produce Icewine until 2005 when Bruce Nicholson became director of winemaking in 2007. Nicholson, one of Canada’s most awarded winemakers, has followed in the footsteps of the co-founders’ spirit of excellence and innovation. Inniskillin has gained international recognition for its Icewines, and plays a major role in the international success of Canadian wines.

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