Fire and Ice are in the air….Casa Larga Vineyards announces the return of the 31st New York Ice Wine & Culinary Festival on Saturday, February 14. This annual event, first held in 1995, celebrates the art of traditional Ice Wine production with tastings, culinary pairings, and unique experiences. Falling on Valentine’s Day, the festival offers an inviting setting for couples and friends to enjoy New York’s award-winning wines and seasonal cuisine together.
Ice Wines are rare, risky, and costly to produce, and the festival showcases those crafted using the traditional German eiswein method. In this process, grapes are naturally frozen on the vine, hand-picked, and pressed within hours of harvest. New York is one of the few regions in the world capable of producing this exceptional and unique style of wine. Guests can savor authentic Ice Wines from top producers, complemented by a curated selection of other New York red and white wines.
The event takes place on the entire Casa Larga property. Including the grand tasting and food pairings in the large ball rooms, specialty craft beverage tastings in the wine shop, tours of the production facility, and outdoor live wagon rides of the vineyards. Photo opportunities for you and your guest, and all things Valentine’s Day are celebrated on this day.
Festival Highlights Include:
- Ice Wine Tastings: Sample authentic Ice Wines from a variety of traditional producers.
- Ice Wine-Inspired Cuisine: Guests will enjoy gourmet small plates crafted by Casa Larga’s Bella Vista Executive Chef Scott DeFrees, each showcasing inventive Ice Wine–infused flavors. This year’s tasting menu features a vibrant papaya salad with Ice Wine–soaked cucumbers and a Thai chili–lime vinaigrette; sweet and sour crispy pork made from 30-hour slow-roasted pork shoulder served over Asian slaw; sweet chili celleutani pasta baked with an Ice Wine–marinated wild mushroom ragout; and a rich Thai tea and Ice Wine crème brûlée finished with a crisp caramelized sugar top.
- Live Entertainment: Enjoy live music and entertainment throughout the day.
- Craft beverage tastings – highlight by local craft products
- Winery Tours: Take guided tours of Casa Larga’s winery and learn about the unique process of crafting Ice Wine.
- Ice Lounge Experience: Toast to love in the Love Shack Ice Lounge to sample the official Ice Wine Fest 2026 cocktail, crimson kiss A mocktail option, Scarlet Sunrise.
- Wagon Rides: Take a scenic ride through the vineyard and enjoy the views (weather permitting).
- Demonstrations – new this year. Enjoy cooking and mixology demonstrations included with your ticket.
- Shopping: Explore unique offerings from local vendors focused on culinary and wine merchandise.
Tickets for the festival are $80 per person for the first session from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., and $85 per person for the second session from 3-6 p.m. Tickets include access to tastings, food samples, and all festival activities. Tickets can be purchased online at www.CasaLarga.com or in person at the Casa Larga Wine Shop.