Pricey Icewine

Filed in archive Canadian Wines on December 12, 2006

Pretty much any wine drinker knows that if you plan to drink some icewine, you'd better be prepared to pay a hefty price for it. This is not your cheapo wine found on the local grocery store shelf. This is cranking up a notch. In fact, the other day after attending my graduation ceremony and drinking a bottle of champagne, we finished the night with a glass of icewine as the final part of our celebration for the evening. It's the kind of vino you bring out at special occasions.

However, there is pricey and there is "are you insane?" Decanter.com recently reported on one really wacky icewine price tag:

If you're stuck for a gift for your beloved this Christmas, you might splash out on a bottle of Royal DeMaria Chardonnay Icewine - though at €500 a centilitre it might be beyond all but the most fervent aficionados.

The 2000 vintage comes in half bottles (37.5cl), currently retailing at CAN$30,000 (€20,000) each - which broken down works out at about seven times the price of a 100ml bottle of Chanel No 5.

And in a few months time that may seem cheap. Owner Joseph DeMaria is so confident of his skills at separating very rich people from their cash that he expects to raise the price to half a million dollars (€330,000) per bottle.

'As usual I increase the price point as the sales increase. Although the 2000 Chardonnay Icewine is at CAN$30,000 now, I can guarantee that by the last bottle, it will have a price tag of CAN$500,000.'

DeMaria said he in the process of closing another three sales, 'two of the to the same area as the first and the other to Japan.' He added, 'You can appreciate that the client asked not to be identified.'

According to Charlene Stephenson, director of sales and marketing for the Niagara winery, the first buyer lives in New York City but will be taking the bottle 'overseas.'

While there is no ageability history for Chardonnay Icewine, a product first made by Royal de maria, most Canadian Rieslings - the most common grape for Icewine - will last for 15 years if well cellared.

But experts are doubtful as to the staying power of a Chardonnay Icewine, as the grape, unlike Riesling, does not have the acidity necessary for ageing.