Since temperatures will often fluctuate during the day, the harvest usually occurs in the dark and windless hours between two and four a.m. Only then can the growers be assured that the temperature will stay below -10 degrees Celsius and the grapes will be truly frozen when they are crushed. It takes a lot of good will and some very creative planning to get people to harvest in the middle of the night. It is a showstopper with dessert and it works extremely well when paired with rich foods such as foie gras saut ed with ginger and mango, or a spicy chicken and coconut milk soup. It is also very refreshing when served before a meal on a hot summer afternoon.
Good things do indeed come in small packages.
One of my responsibilities as sommelier is to look around my neighborhood for new and interesting wines. It makes me happy to recommend a Chardonnay from the southern edges of Lake Ontario to a German tourist or a Cabernet Franc to a New Yorker and listen as they order a second bottle. They have discovered a new and wonderful friend. My job is done. All rights reserved.