Tuesday, September 22, 2026 sparkling wine reviews are a pair of delicious, brand-new Fracette sparkling wines that recently arrived at the LCBO as part of the feature on Ontario wines in the LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.
Fracette (pronounced “frah-SET”) is a new VQA category of sparkling wine that is uniquely Canadian, as it is crafted using Icewine. The term Fracette is a combination of words inspired by the frozen (fr-) grapes used to make Canadian Icewine and facette (-acette), representing the layers and complexities of this completely new style of sparkling wine.
What makes Fracette unique is that instead of a conventional mixture of still base wine with sugar and yeast being used in the tirage to spark secondary fermentation, VQA Icewine supplies the fermentable sugar. The secondary fermentation is what creates the bubbles and can take place either in tank (the Charmat or méthode cuve close method) or in bottle (the Traditional method). This distinctive use of Icewine as the tirage liqueur can enhance the freshness and depth of flavour of the finished wine, creating a crisp and complex sparkling wine with a unique drinking experience.
Some of the rules governing Fracette wines include the use of Vitis vinifera grape varieties, with Vidal permitted in the Icewine component, and no more than 15 g/L residual sugar. Like other VQA sparkling wines, the wine must derive its effervescence from alcoholic fermentation rather than artificial carbonation, have a minimum of 300 kPa, and the alcohol content must be between 7% and 14.9% ABV. Since November 2025, Fracette has been a protected and regulated VQA Ontario wine category under Ontario's Vintners Quality Alliance regulations.
Both of these delicious sparkling wines by Kew Vineyards and Inniskillin Wines are readily available at the LCBO, with the Kew Fracette Sparkling featured as a Hand-Picked Gift. I happened to notice while shopping over the weekend that both of these bubblies are also available at grocery stores. Let's see how these two locally crafted Ontario sparkling wines are tasting tonight...
Blend of 41% Pinot Noir, 33% Chardonnay, 16% Pinot Meuiner, and 10% Vidal Icewine. Delicate aromas of stone & orchard fruits, peach, floral, pear, and apple with hints of citrus rise out of the glass. On the weighty, medium-full bodied palate there's sweet fruited peach, floral, pear, apple, and citrus replays on the dry flavour profile. Acids are crisp, juicy, and refreshing, while the gentle mousse is clean and crisp. It's well-balanced throughout with floral, peach, pear, and citrus notes on the dry finish, with very good length. Recommended buy. 89 pts
INNISKILLIN FRACETTE ROSÉ SPARKLING 2025 - Charmat Method, VQA Ontario, Canada (#53240) (XD) - $34.95
100% Cabernet Franc with Cabernet Franc Icewine used as the tirage. A finishing touch of Cabernet Franc Icewine was also used. The medium+ intensity nose has gentle aromas of red berry jelly, raspberry, strawberry, and cherry aromas with hints of citrus, rose floral, and mineral. It is light-to-medium bodied on the palate with lovely raspberry, cherry, and strawberry flavours mingling with blood orange, mineral, and spice flavours in a dry, complex flavour profile. It has clean and crisp acidity, along with finely crafted bubbles that are smooth, refined, and elegant. Red berry and citrus notes taper to minerals and spice on the long, savoury, and juicy finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts
Other lovely wines by Kew Vineyards and Inniskillin are widely available at the LCBO and various online and brick-and-mortar shops, including grocery stores, and can also be ordered direct from each winery or through Arterra Wines Canada.
Fracette (pronounced “frah-SET”) is a new VQA category of sparkling wine that is uniquely Canadian, as it is crafted using Icewine. The term Fracette is a combination of words inspired by the frozen (fr-) grapes used to make Canadian Icewine and facette (-acette), representing the layers and complexities of this completely new style of sparkling wine.
What makes Fracette unique is that instead of a conventional mixture of still base wine with sugar and yeast being used in the tirage to spark secondary fermentation, VQA Icewine supplies the fermentable sugar. The secondary fermentation is what creates the bubbles and can take place either in tank (the Charmat or méthode cuve close method) or in bottle (the Traditional method). This distinctive use of Icewine as the tirage liqueur can enhance the freshness and depth of flavour of the finished wine, creating a crisp and complex sparkling wine with a unique drinking experience.
Some of the rules governing Fracette wines include the use of Vitis vinifera grape varieties, with Vidal permitted in the Icewine component, and no more than 15 g/L residual sugar. Like other VQA sparkling wines, the wine must derive its effervescence from alcoholic fermentation rather than artificial carbonation, have a minimum of 300 kPa, and the alcohol content must be between 7% and 14.9% ABV. Since November 2025, Fracette has been a protected and regulated VQA Ontario wine category under Ontario's Vintners Quality Alliance regulations.
Both of these delicious sparkling wines by Kew Vineyards and Inniskillin Wines are readily available at the LCBO, with the Kew Fracette Sparkling featured as a Hand-Picked Gift. I happened to notice while shopping over the weekend that both of these bubblies are also available at grocery stores. Let's see how these two locally crafted Ontario sparkling wines are tasting tonight...
Tasting Notes:
KEW FRACETTE SPARKLING 2025 - Charmat Method, VQA Ontario, Canada (#53239) (XD) - $26.95Blend of 41% Pinot Noir, 33% Chardonnay, 16% Pinot Meuiner, and 10% Vidal Icewine. Delicate aromas of stone & orchard fruits, peach, floral, pear, and apple with hints of citrus rise out of the glass. On the weighty, medium-full bodied palate there's sweet fruited peach, floral, pear, apple, and citrus replays on the dry flavour profile. Acids are crisp, juicy, and refreshing, while the gentle mousse is clean and crisp. It's well-balanced throughout with floral, peach, pear, and citrus notes on the dry finish, with very good length. Recommended buy. 89 pts
INNISKILLIN FRACETTE ROSÉ SPARKLING 2025 - Charmat Method, VQA Ontario, Canada (#53240) (XD) - $34.95
100% Cabernet Franc with Cabernet Franc Icewine used as the tirage. A finishing touch of Cabernet Franc Icewine was also used. The medium+ intensity nose has gentle aromas of red berry jelly, raspberry, strawberry, and cherry aromas with hints of citrus, rose floral, and mineral. It is light-to-medium bodied on the palate with lovely raspberry, cherry, and strawberry flavours mingling with blood orange, mineral, and spice flavours in a dry, complex flavour profile. It has clean and crisp acidity, along with finely crafted bubbles that are smooth, refined, and elegant. Red berry and citrus notes taper to minerals and spice on the long, savoury, and juicy finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts
Other lovely wines by Kew Vineyards and Inniskillin are widely available at the LCBO and various online and brick-and-mortar shops, including grocery stores, and can also be ordered direct from each winery or through Arterra Wines Canada.
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