In this episode of Niagara on the Mic, we sit down with Klaus Reif, owner and winemaker at Reif Estate Winery, to explore the history, craft, and global impact of Icewine. With more than three decades in the industry, Klaus shares his journey from growing up in a multi-generation winemaking family to helping shape Niagara-on-the-Lake into one of the world’s most recognized Icewine regions.

We taste Reif’s Vidal Icewine and dive into what makes Icewine so unique, from frozen harvests at minus ten degrees to the balance of sweetness, acidity, and aromatics that define the style. Along the way, Klaus reflects on building the VQA framework, putting Canadian wine on the international stage, climate change, innovation, and what the next generation of winemakers means for the future of the region.

Recorded at the beautiful Largo’s Loft in downtown St. Catharines.