21st Annual Grand River Valley Ice Wine Festival

Raise a glass

This year marks the 21st season for the annual Ice Wine Festival, held the month of March in the Grand River Valley wine region. With such a unique winter season, this will truly be a celebration for the wineries, since Mother Nature only granted one opportunity this year to harvest true ice wine. True ice wine can only be made when the grapes are left on the vines at the end of the traditional harvest season awaiting Mother Nature’s shift of seasons from fall to winter.

The festival has expanded throughout the years and now includes 6 wineries and 1 distillery that will feature an ice wine cocktail. Many of the participating wineries have expanded their drink lists to include specialty cocktails for the festival as well. “We have seen the shift in drinking habits, and we are making sure we include something for everyone”, states Cindy Lindberg, festival coordinator and president of Grand River Cellars Winery & Restaurant. “In addition to an extensive list of cocktails for the festival Grand River Cellars, for the first time ever, will be featuring a mocktail (non-alcoholic cocktail) make with fresh ice wine juice from the 2024 harvest.”

A Sweet Experience🍇

Join the wineries of the Grand River Valley **Debonné Vineyards, Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, Grand River Cellars Winery & Restaurant, Laurello Vineyards, South River Vineyards, Cask 307 Winery, and Red Eagle Distillery** for an afternoon of ice wine sampling perfectly paired with the appetizers.
Patrons will visit each of the seven participants in any order they choose. Each establishment will provide samples of their libation along with a delicious appetizer.
The cost is $10 per person at each winery. In lieu of a canned good donation for the local food banks, the wineries are automatically making a monetary donation to the banks. The coordinators encourage everyone to drink responsibly and have a designated driver ticket, for $5, which includes a non-alcoholic drink and an appetizer.
For more information about the Ice Wine Trail go to www.wggrv.com.

Participating Wineries

🍷Grand River Cellars Winery & Restaurant

APPETIZER: Buffalo Chicken Mac n Cheese
FEATURED WINE: 2023 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine, Maple Ice Wine or Port Style Dessert Wine
FESTIVAL SATURDAYS ONLY:
- Delightful Soy Candles featuring Ice Wine Candles
- Basket Case Gift Baskets; March 2nd
- Bow Wow “Bark”Cuterie ; March 16th & 23

🍷Ferrante Winery & Ristorante

APPETIZER: Corkscrew Fired & Ice Primavera Pasta
FEATURED WINE: Vidal Blanc Ice Wine, Sparkling Moscato
FESTIVAL SATURDAYS ONLY: Bourbon Aged Ice Wine Cellar Tour (Additional cost, reservations required, limited availability.)

🍷Cask 307

APPETIZER: Salted Caramel Butter Bars
FEATURED WINE: Rosè of Vidal Blanc Ice Wine
FESTIVAL SATURDAYS ONLY: XOXO Permanent Jewelry; March 2, 16, 30 and Color Street stylish nail stickers and essential oils

🍷South River Winery

APPETIZER: Truffles by F Bomb
FEATURED WINE: 2022 Concord Ice Wine & 2022 Blush Ice Wine (Blend of Chambourcin & Vidal Blanc)

🍷Debonne Vineyards

APPETIZER: Ham Salad Slider
FEATURED WINE: 2023 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine & Cherry Bourbon Ice Wine
FESTIVAL SATURDAYS ONLY: Jam & Rub sampling by Peppers4Fun and XOXO Permanent Jewelry

🍷Red Eagle Distillery

APPETIZER: Black Door Tavern Signature Chorizo & Smoked Cheddar Taco Andante

FEATURED ICE WINE COCKTAIL: Planter’s Punch with Vidal Ice Wine and Red Eagle Spirits
FESTIVAL SATURDAYS ONLY: Visit Black Door Tavern next door featuring “Shelter from the Storm Tasting” 2-4 pm

🍷Laurello Vineyards

APPETIZER: Dark Chocolate Ice Cream with Sea Salt Chocolate Truffles
FEATURED WINE: Simply Mad Habanero and 2023 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine
FESTIVAL SATURDAYS ONLY: Golden Gypsy Honey; March 2, 16, 30 and XOXO Permanent Jewelry; March 9 & 23

Places To Stay

Overnight packages are available for 2024 with Holiday Inn Express and the Hampton Inn by Hilton. Bundle an overnight stay with transportation to each festival location and 2 festival passes in one convenient transaction. BOOK NOW!