A winter gift for those who love wine

This week we consider the virtues of ice wine, a rival to sauternes for the title of the world's best dessert wine. Both drinks are super sweet and well suited to Chinese food, though ice wine is not as well known in this country as the French delight.

Ice wine is winter's gift to wine lovers. That is because winter plays a major role in the wine's production. Most ice wine comes from northern hemisphere nations, with Canada the best-known producer.

Grapes ripen on the vine in October. But they are left untouched until Canada's full winter some months later. Winter sucks water from the grapes and concentrates the flavors.