An Inside Look at Stratus Vineyards

From state-of-the-art facilities and sustainable practices to deconstructed bottles and unfiltered wines, Stratus Vineyards is truly one of a kind.

Stratus is located in the Niagara region and their 62-acre vineyard is split into 44 distinct blocks, consisting of 10 red varietals and 6 white. They practice “low-yield” viticulture, meaning they thin their fruit and restrict the number of clusters on each vine. As a result, the remaining grapes are stronger which creates more complex and flavourful wines. In other words, their low yield creates rich rewards!

Their state-of-the-art facilities are guided by “loose fit, long life and low energy “ principles, meaning they produce great wine while trying to reduce their environmental impact in every way possible. In fact, in 2005, Stratus became the first fully Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified winery in the world. 

Stratus reduces energy consumption by using gravity to their advantage. Their wines flow naturally from their stainless steel and oak fermenters, into French oak barrels. Additionally, the winery was made with recycled materials and environmentally responsible features such as geothermal heating and cooling. Even their landscaping is made up of native plants that can survive without the use of fertilizers or pesticides!

Their 2019 Unfiltered Chardonnay is unfiltered and has a significant amount of sediment inside, which creates a cloudy appearance. This wine is one of Stratus’s more out-of-the-box creations. The sediment makes the wine very textured and flavourful.

Their 2019 Cabernet Franc ‘Decant’ is guaranteed to turn heads. With a sleek black style and jagged edges, this wine is unforgettable before you even take the first sip. The bottle was designed by Karim Rashid in order to reflect the layers and stratification of glacial soil within the vineyard. When pouring the wine, the deconstructed shape decants the wine by trapping the lees, making it both delicious and practical!

Visit Stratus’s “stylish, elegant and warm” tasting room today by booking your experience directly on their website.