Stratus Vineyards

David Feldberg, the president and CEO of the furniture company Teknion, established Stratus Vineyards in 2000. The winery facility, located in Niagara-on-the-Lake, officially opened to the public in 2005 after several years of vineyard development. Feldberg sought to apply design principles and environmental standards from the manufacturing sector to viticulture, resulting in a project that emphasizes sustainability and modern aesthetics. J-L Groux, a winemaker with experience in Burgundy and Bordeaux, served as the founding winemaker and was instrumental in establishing the winery's focus on the practice of assemblage.

The 62-acre estate is situated in the Niagara Lakeshore sub-appellation, where the climate is moderated by the proximity of Lake Ontario and the Niagara River. This location creates a micro-climate that is among the warmest in the Niagara region, suitable for ripening a diverse range of grapes. The vineyard is divided into 44 distinct blocks containing 16 different varieties, including Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Gamay, and Syrah. Soils consist of mineral-rich glacial till over limestone. Winemaking follows a gravity-flow system within a LEED-certified facility, utilizing four-story elevators to move tanks and avoid the use of mechanical pumps. Grapes are hand-harvested and undergo a double-sorting process to ensure only sorted fruit enters the fermentation vessels, which include stainless steel and French oak as well as clay amphorae.

Stratus Vineyards is most recognized for its signature assemblage wines, known as Stratus Red and Stratus White. These flagship blends are constructed by selecting the most successful components of each vintage to create a wine representing the estate. The winery also produces varietal wines alongside Icewine and the Alto label. A premium tier, the White Label, highlights specific vineyard parcels and incorporates experimental sustainable practices such as a bottle re-use program. The winery is noted for its architectural design and its status as the first winery in the world to achieve full LEED certification for its entire facility. Its wines are generally characterized by concentration and the capacity for long-term aging.