Niagara offers vintage wine festival
ONTARIO OUTINGS
NIAGARA-ON- THE-LAKE—
Stratus Vineyards made a splashy debut in wine country this spring, but now, during the Niagara Wine Festival running from Sept. 16- 25 in venues throughout the region, it’s the perfect time to visit, taste and experience what the fuss is all about.
Stratus, one of the newest wineries in Niagara, is designed to attract visitors who want a really special experience. With its innovative winery that showcases renowned winemaster J- LGroux and his signature “ assemblage” wines — Stratus White ( a personal fave) and Stratus Red — they are certainly poised to do just that.
“ The Wine Festival is a celebration of Niagara wine country, and at Stratus, we’re pushing the envelope in what we can do in the vineyard, in the winery and with the visitor experience,” explains Suzanne Janke, director of hospitality and retail for the chic, contemporary and visually stunning facility located at 2059 Niagara Stone Rd. near the old town of Niagara- on- the- Lake. The environmentally sustainable winery is the first building in Canada to achieve “ Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design” certification from the Canada Green Building Council.
Focused tastings are the key at Stratus, where knowledgeable staff provide in-depth, personal attention, taking time to explain the Stratus philosophy of winemaking.
It’s well worth the $ 10 per person just to taste the vintages.
During the festival, a special wine and cheese seminar ($ 30 per person, call for reservations) is slated for Sept. 17 with specialty cheeses from DeLuca’s Cheese Market and Deli ( Hillebrand head chef Tony DeLuca’s other venture) and presentation by sommelier Peter Bodnar- Rod. As at Stratus, each winery throughout Niagara will offer tastings and present specialty events during the Wine Festival.
For complete festival information, visit www. grapeandwine. com
For information on Stratus, visit www. stratuswines. com Kathryn Korchok is a Niagara-based freelance writer.