Eiswein
/ˈaɪsvaɪn/
The English phrase "ice wine" is translated into German as Eiswein.
Eiswein refers to a sweet wine produced from grapes that were harvested after having frozen while still on the vine.
Meaning: a sweet wine made from grapes that are harvested after being frozen on the vine (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound noun made up of the parts Eis, meaning "ice" and Wein, meaning "wine".
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun is masculine and is used with the definite article der (e.g., der Eiswein). The plural form of the word is Eisweine.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈaɪsvaɪn/
Did you know?
- Because grapes for Eiswein must be harvested in near-freezing temperatures, the picking process often happens in the middle of the night to ensure the fruit stays frozen.
- In German wine culture, Eiswein is often served as a dessert wine, but it is also traditionally paired with salty blue cheeses to balance its intense sweetness.
- To qualify as Eiswein, the grapes must be harvested at a natural temperature of -7°C or lower. If a winemaker uses artificial freezing to mimic this process, the wine cannot legally be labeled as Eiswein in Germany.
Examples in context
- Könnte ich bitte ein Glas Eiswein haben?Could I please have a glass of ice wine?
- Der Eiswein aus dieser Region ist besonders berühmt.The ice wine from this region is particularly famous.
- Kannst du mir sagen, wo ich Eiswein kaufen kann?Can you tell me where I can buy ice wine?
- Der Eiswein ist sehr süß.The ice wine is very sweet.
- Möchten Sie ein Glas Eiswein probieren?Would you like to try a glass of ice wine?
- Wir haben einen guten Eiswein gekauft.We bought a good ice wine.
Example conversation
A couple is sitting in a restaurant at the end of their meal.
- LauraLukas, hast du Lust auf einen Eiswein?Lukas, do you feel like having an ice wine?
- LukasJa, das wäre ein toller Nachtisch.Yes, that would be a great dessert.
- LauraIch bestelle ihn für uns beide.I will order it for both of us.
- LukasDas klingt nach einem guten Plan.That sounds like a good plan.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ice wine” translations and entries Eiswein, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
