Minus 18 (Ice Wine style)

 Varietals: 100% Merlot
Cultivation area: Northern Golan Heights, Kerem Tel Shifon
Harvest date: 1.9.22
Production process: Minus 18 is made in the style of ice wine that is produced in countries where with very low temperatures in winter, for example, in Austria and Canada.
We harvested our grapes by hand into small boxes, and froze them the same day in a dedicated freezer at a temperature of -18 degrees. At the beginning of winter, the grapes were transferred to the winery on a cold morning and pressed while still frozen to extract the concentrated flavors and sugars. 
The process itself takes about 24 hours for 1.5 tons of grapes, and the output is extremely low. At the end of the process, a concentrated and very sweet juice is obtained.
The fermentation phase also takes about two months, at the end of which the wine undergoes cold stabilization and preparation for bottling.
Tasting notes: The wine has an overwhelming aroma of sour cherry jam, strawberries and dried papaya. It is very rich and has a full texture, thanks to the high sugar levels, along with a long and delightful finish.
Minus 18 is very suitable as a dessert wine at the end of a meal or alongside feta cheese with onion jam and decadent desserts.
Bottling date: 16.2.23