Donald Ziraldo opened Inniskillin, Ontario’s first winery since Prohibition, in 1975. Nine years later, he and Austrian-born winemaker Karl Kaiser produced the region’s first Icewine, which would become the winery’s — and the region’s — signature wine. Ziraldo left Inniskillin in 2006 to run his own winery; this is his first estate-grown icewine release, from a vineyard he planted in 2007 to five clones of riesling grafted on four different rootstocks. The dark-orange hue of the wine is burnished by age, as are the scents of caramel and candied orange rind. The flavours follow suit, taking on notes of honeyed walnuts and spice, with a chocolatey richness. Full-bodied and complex, this would pair well with chocolate desserts, as well as stand on its own after dinner. 

Esber Beverage Co., Canton, OH