THE ICEWINE THE BOOK THE MAN THE MEDIA CONSULTANCY WHERE TO BUY

  • ZIRALDO 2007 RIESLING ICEWINE

    I am proud to present this vintage of Riesling Icewine under the Ziraldo label. Canada and Icewine are synonymous. The Niagara Peninsula’s unique climate provides the ideal conditions to ripen the fruit. The cold winters naturally freeze the water in the berries to yield an exquisite balance of fruit, acid and an extraordinary array of flavors which results in this fine wine, often called “liquid gold”.

    The secret to great Icewine is the ideal balance between the intense sweetness and the inherent high acidity from the cool climate region of Niagara. These Riesling grapes, naturally frozen on the vine, were harvested during the middle of the night and pressed in the extreme cold to separate the juice from the ice crystals, followed by fermentation in a special yeast for many months. This remarkable process concentrates the sugar and acids - intensifying the aromatic flavours in the berries. The aromas are reminiscent of white and tropical fruits, with overtones of peach nectar and mango. To ensure that this Icewine achieved the highest quality, I asked Karl Kaiser to supervise its final vinification. Ziraldo Icewine is an expression of the unique terroir of the Niagara Peninsula and is true expression of this unique Canadian icon. You can learn more about Icewine and pairing it with food in my book ‘Icewine: Extreme Winemaking’.


    Donald J. P. Ziraldo

    Donald Ziraldo

  • ICEWINE: extreme winemaking

    "Icewine: Extreme Winemaking by Inniskillin Wines co-founders Donald Ziraldo and Karl Kaiser is a beautifully illustrated book that reveals the painstaking methods and skills used to create one of Canada's most desired delicacies - Icewine.

    Niagara Peninsula is renowned for the quality of its Icewine, and from Japan to Europe Icewine is synonymous with the highest level of luxury goods. Donald Ziraldo takes readers on a personal tour through the amazing world of cool-climate viticulture and Icewine-making. Ziraldo draws on his insights and experience to bring to life what is an exacting science, an expressive art and an earthy celebration of regional terroir. The complex factors that determine a fine wine-soil, grape varieties, pressing, cork quality, and the all important cold climate needed to produce Icewine-are all colourfully presented in this handsome keepsake volume.

    Winemaker Karl Kaiser adds a chapter on the scientific aspects of Icewine making. Beautiful photographs complement more than 20 scrumptious recipes from the late, resident chef Izabela Kalabis-Sacco that rely on Icewine as a main ingredient. Food and wine pairings provide the perfect finish for this luxurious volume, designed to immerse readers in the velvety smoothness of Canada's most precious beverage."

    .... excerpt from Key-Porter Publishing.

    For purchasing information visit www.indigo.ca or www.amazon.com

    Icewine: Extreme Winemaking

  • DONALD J.P. ZIRALDO, C.M., BSc., LLD

    GENERAL

    • Born in St. Catharines, Ontario, October 13, 1948 to Fredrick and Irma (Schiratti)

    • Graduated Denis Morris High School, St. Catharines in 1967

    • Received B.Sc. in Agriculture at the University of Guelph 1971 (BSc)

    • Awarded Honorary Degree, Humber College

    • Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree, Brock University, 1994 (LLD)

    • Order of Ontario, 1993

    • Order of Canada, 1998

    • Top 25 Canadian CEOs of the Century, National Post Business Magazine, 1999

    • Honourary Citizenship (Friuli Venzia Julia), Italy

    • Author: Icewine; Extreme Winemaking (2007, in book stores now)

    CORPORATE AND ORGANIZATIONAL ROLES

    • Director, Shaftesbury Films

    • Member of the Ontario Institute of Agrologists

    • Founding Chair Vintners’ Quality Alliance 1988-1995

    • Member, Academie Internationale du Vin (AIV) – inducted December 2000

    • Member Greenbelt Advisory Task Force

    • Director, Cannasat Therapeutics Inc.

    • Chair, Grape & Wine Coordination Research Committee, 2004

    • Board Member/Industry Advisor, CAPS (Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers)

    • Honorary Board Member, The International Wine Institute, 2005

    • Board of Advisors, Zerofootprint

    • Chair, Vineland Renaissance Advisory Panel – 2006

    • Chair, Vineland Research & Innovation Centre Board – 2007

    • RTN Stealth Software Inc - Board

    PAST POSITIONS

    • President (1975-2006) Inniskillin Wines Inc., Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

    • President (since 1994) Inniskillin Okanagan Vineyards Inc., Oliver, British Columbia

    • Director, Vincor International Inc. (1993–2004)

    • Member, Team Canada Inc. Advisory Board

    • Member, Canadian Tourism Council

    • Board of Governors, Shaw Festival Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake

    • Co-Chair, Cool Climate Oenology & Viticulture Institute Capital Campaign, Brock Univ.

    • Campaign Chair, Niagara College Foundation “Future Ready” Capital Campaign

    AWARDS

    • Ontario Hostelry Institute Chairman’s Award, 1991

    • TAMA Marketer of the Year, 1993

    • Silver Ladle Award, Toronto Culinary Guild

    • Honorary Bachelor of Applied Studies Degree, Niagara College 2004

    • Winery Management Magazine; Distinguished Achievement Award, 1994

    • Outstanding Business Person of the Year, St. Catharines Adv. and Sales Assoc., 1994

    • Entrepreneurial Leadership Award, Institute for Enterprise Education, 1994

    • Awarded Medal of Achievement at Guelph

    • Grindley Medal, Agricultural Institute of Canada (AIC), 1995

    • Entrepreneur of the Year for Community Contribution: Enterprise ‘95, 1995

    • Award of Merit, Ontario Grape Growers; Marketing Board, 1997

    • Special Recognition Award, The Elsie Awards, LCBO, 1997

    • Lifetime Achievement Award, Enterprise ‘98, Entrepreneur of the Year Awards

    • Lifetime Achievement Award, Canadian Wine Institute, 1999

    • Lifetime Achievement Award for Food and Beverage Excellence,

    - The Sixth Annual New World of Food and Wine Festival Singapore, 2002

    • Niagara Wine Festival Royal Bank's Business Citizen of the Year, 2002

    • Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s 50th anniversary Golden Jubilee Award, 2002

    • Award for Business Excellence, Canadian Italian Business Professional Association, 2002

    • McGill Management Achievement Award, McGill University, 2003

    • Canadian Italian National Award, Ottawa, 2003

    • Business Excellence Award, The Cdn. Italian Business & Prof. Assoc. of Toronto, 2005

    • VinCambridge Award of Excellence, Donald Ziraldo and Karl Kaiser, 2006

    • Lifetime Achievement in Tourism Award, Ont. Tourism Marketing Partnership Corp., 2007

    • 1991 - OHI (Ontario Hostilery Institute) Chairman's Gold Award

     

     

     

     

    Donald Ziraldo

  • Donald Ziraldo Consulting

    SCOPE OF WORK:
    I have now spent two years out of the wine business and felt it was time to make my services available. I am available on an advisory basis for various disciplineswith the wine sector; particularily marketing, publicrelations, winery design and strategic planning. I would be particularily interested in challenging start up operations and restructuring existing wineries. I am only interested in the advisory role as opposed to day to day management. My interest in architecture and my international experience in Icewine is what I would be most qualified in contributing .Additionally, I have a strong network of associates from whom I can draw to provide specific expertise such as: finance, accounting, engineering, distribution, vineyard management and many other areas that I can bring to the discussion.

    RATES:
    $2000.00 per day/ or $250.00 per hour.
    The intent would be in a more advisory capacity in the form of discussion as opposed to a structured consulting type of arrangement. In the many years that I have built a very successful wine company I have relied on the knowledge that I had gained from experience and I would make that knowledge available. I would apply it on a case by case basis to achieve above standard expecations.

    Donald Ziraldo

  • Where To Buy

    The inaugural Icewine release date will be November 21, 2009 and will available in select stores and restaurants. Revisit this page for updated Restaurant listings.

    CANADA - Authentic Wines - www.awsm.ca
    Ontario - - Authentic Wines - www.awsm.ca & select L.C.B.O. stores
    BC, Alberta, Manitoba & Quebec - Authentic Wines - www.awsm.ca

    HONG KONG:
    Andy Lee - www.sinolinkfw.com

    FRANCE:
    Frank Pironett, Talent e Terroir - 33-698800364 - frank.pironett@wanadoo.fr

    Donald Ziraldo