Stratus Vineyards

Besides its excellent wines, Stratus Vineyards in Niagara-on-the-Lake is also well-known for its commitment to sustainability. In fact, in 2005, it became the world’s first winery to get completely LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).

Eco-Friendly Niagara Winery

The winery’s modern architecture and elegant design is very appealing. On its 62 acre vineyard, it grows several varietals including 10 for red wines and 6 for white. A terroir conducive to the growth of healthy vines, eco-friendly cultivation techniques and an effective winemaking facility all contribute to the production of quality wines.

 

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Mineral-rich soil with limestone, and the advantages of its proximity to Lake Ontario assist the growth of grapes. Additionally, frost fans at the vineyard help to circulate warm air at night during the cold weather of early spring and late fall.

Low-yield viticulture where the number of clusters are reduced, and thinning of the fruit results in intense wine flavours. The ecosystem encourages natural growth with native cover crops, and environment-friendly practices such as usage of recycled materials are followed.

Geothermal heating and cooling is also an important factor in the production of wine at Stratus. All this translates into natural, healthy vines and wonderful wines.

 

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During wine production, the wines, assisted by gravity, flow naturally from oak or stainless steel fermenters into French Oak barrels.

Stratus Wine Offerings

The 1000-barrel cellar has sunlight coming in through translucent panes and has geothermal cooling for ideal cellar temperatures. Traditional practices and modern methods are blended to create perfect wines.

The Stratus wine collection includes wines such as:

• Cabernet Franc
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Syrah
• Petit Verdot
• Gamay
• Tempranillo
• Chardonnay
• Riesling
• Sauvignon Blanc
• Semillon
• Viognier
• Icewine
• Icewine Red

Stratus Vineyards Tours

 

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Head to the tasting rooms and retail gallery to savour the delightful wines.

• Enjoy the Taste by Flight in the tasting room where you can sample 4 wines for $10 and also learn about the winery’s history.
• If you enjoy food and wine combinations and wish to learn more about the relationship between the two, try the one-hour Stratus Food & Wine Lab experience.
• With the Stratus Signature Experience, you can relish four wines paired with cheese and charcuterie at a seated tasting. This guided tour also talks about Stratus’s commitment to sustainability, quality and design.
• Learn more about the vineyard, the growing season, cultivation techniques and farm practices with the Vineyard Sip & Stroll tour.
• Try something unique with the Swirls, Sips & Hops tour that combines a winery tour at Stratus and a brewery tour at Oast House Brewers located close by. All of these tours are available for $25 per person.