Stratus Vineyards, located in the tiny village of Niagara-on-the Lake in Canada, is one of the few wineries in the world that don’t use a pump. Gravity flow system is followed here when the wine is taken to their respective locations in huge tanks and barrels. Stratus is known for its trademark assemblage wines and the vineyards are no exception to this objective. Currently, 10 varieties of red grapes and 6 varieties of white grapes are grown on the vineyards of Stratus.
The vineyards spread across 62 acres on the appellations found on the southeastern part of the Niagara region. The soils found here are very fertile and rich in nutrients, which add colour, flavour and character to the grapes grown here. The red grape varieties grown in the vineyards of Stratus include Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Gamay, Sangiovese, Tempranillo and Tannat.
The white grape varieties grown here include Gewurztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay, Viognier and Semillon. The portfolio of wines that are made here can be broadly classified into Assemblage, Varietal, Icewines, Wildass, Tollgate and Kalbang.
Assemblage - This includes the signature Stratus Red and Stratus White Wines that are made from a blend of various varieties of grapes and aged in French oak barrels for a long time.
Varietal - This category includes premium wines that are made from exceptional and not-so-common grape varieties such as the Petit Verdot, Tempranillo, Tannat and the like.
Icewine - In this category, Stratus Wines creates wines that have high acidity and alcohol content. These icewines are naturally sweet and are crisp in texture.
Wildass - Produced in limited quantities, Wildass wines come in red, white and rose varieties. They are created in the same way as that of the assemblage wines.
Tollgate - Only the choicest, barrel-aged Stratus varietals are used to create Tollgate wines. These grapes are grown in Upper Canada.
Kalbang - These wines are bright and bustling with energy, thus making it perfect for sipping during special occasions.
https://www.stratuswines.com
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