Ice Wine White from the agricultural company Zelkova Winery won the grand prize in the Korean traditional liquor Korean wine category at the 2026 Korea Wine & Spirits Awards.
On the 27th, according to Zelkova Winery, the award-winning Ice Wine White is a white ice wine made by blending two domestic varieties, Cheongsoo and Shine Muscat. Built on the clean acidity and balance of Cheongsoo, the signature bright aroma of Shine Muscat adds to complete a profile that is rich yet delicate.
The key to Ice Wine White lies in its unsweetened, low-temperature fermentation. No sugar or other sweeteners are added, and fermentation proceeds using only the grape juice's own sugars. Through a slow, low-temperature process, it preserves the varieties' native aromas and delicate flavors as much as possible and brings out the ingredient's inherent natural sweetness and scent as is.
Alongside Shine Muscat's green-grape scent, tropical fruit aromas reminiscent of mango and lychee unfold abundantly. On the palate, the fruit's gentle natural sweetness and brisk acidity strike a balance, finishing clean with lingering length. The concentrated fruit flavors and refreshing acidity meld naturally, creating a style that can be enjoyed lightly and elegantly without the heaviness typical of dessert wines.
Zelkova Winery is a small winery in Sangju that produces wine and distilled spirits highlighting the value of local agricultural products. Drawing on the craft of a master who has been brewing for more than 40 years, it continues to make wine in traditional ways. In particular, by showcasing a range of wines that bring out the character of fruit grown in the region, it has demonstrated new possibilities for Korean fruit wine.
Zelkova Winery said it plans to use this award as an opportunity to promote the quality and potential of Korean fruit wine to a broader base of consumers and to continue introducing a steady lineup of wines that reflect the characteristics of Sangju's agricultural products. The Ice Wine White was developed with support from the Sangju Agricultural Technology Center.