Stratus
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Stratus Vineyards, established in 2000, is a sustainable, innovative winery located in the heart of Niagara wine country dedicated to growing and producing limited quantities of premium wine in the VQA Niagara Lakeshore appellation. Viticultural practices adhere to the principles of rigorously low yields and harvesting that relies on handpicking and meticulous attention using multiple sort tables for optimal fruit selection.
The winery itself is a marvel of efficiency, sustainability and flexibility – It is designed to produce limited quantities of wine based on a true gravity flow system, thereby eliminating any pumping of wine. Additionally, it is the first building in Canada to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification and the only winery worldwide to fully achieve this designation. Environmental sustainability is a core value of all involved in the design and operation of Stratus.
With a focus on Vitis vinifera , the vineyard is planted in thirty-five separate blocs containing thirteen different grape varieties. All of the varieties of Bordeaux as well as Syrah, Gamay, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Riesling and Viognier allow for wines of diversity and complexity. Substantial portions of the vineyard are over a quarter of a century old. The soils of the Stratus vineyard are highly prized compositions of clay loam with permeable gravelly limestone.
Winemaking at Stratus is led by J-L Groux, a native of the Loire Valley in France. J-L has been honored as “Ontario Winemaker of the Year” and is renowned for his passion for creating distinctive wines based on the principle of assemblage — the crafting of several grape varieties to create layered wines of complexity, a true expression of the vineyard’s terroir. Stratus two signature assemblage wines are Stratus White and Stratus Red. Critically acclaimed, these wines have quickly become a distinction of quality within the Canadian wine industry.
Website:
www.stratuswines.com
Stratus Wines
[Click on a wine to view a PDF Info Sheet]
Click here to see an interview with Director of Hospitality and Retail, Suzanne Janke on Spiel the Wine with Kevin LoVullo.
