NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, ON, April 19,
2024 /CNW/ - Stratus Vineyards, a leader in
innovative and sustainable winemaking, is proud to announce the
release of a new, super-premium wine in bottles that are being used
for the second time. They believe this pioneering
project marks the first time a North American winery has re-used
their own glass wine bottle, setting a new benchmark for
environmental responsibility in the wine industry.
This re-use initiative is the latest step in Stratus Vineyards'
attentiveness to the environment. Attaining LEED™ certification for
our full facility – the first winery in the world to do so –
underlined our singular commitment," says Estate Director
Suzanne Janke.
Our Motivation: The Circular Economy
Valuing both innovation and community, it is no surprise that
this re-used glass project began when Winemaker Dean Stoyka led
Stratus' partnership with environmental students from Niagara
College in a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The students quickly
confirmed that glass was one of the most carbon-intensive aspects
accounting for 39% of the winery's carbon footprint. And,
according to the Porto Protocol, an industry non-profit dedicated
to mitigating climate change, that total is closer to 50-70% when
you factor in the energy needed to melt glass and transport it to
market and consumers. Moreover, silica sand, a key component in
glassmaking, ranks second behind water in terms of the world's most
exploited resource per a 2022 UN report.
Despite the logical appeal of bottle re-use and its adoption in
some smaller European wine regions, it is still not practiced in
the Canadian wine landscape. Commonplace in the beer industry,
where the largest breweries agreed to a standard bottle, beer
drinkers return their "empties" to the Beer Store and the bottles
are cleaned and prepared for the next batch of beer.
To explore the possibilities for the wine industry, Stoyka found
Circulr, a Kitchener,
Ontario pioneer in the re-use glass movement, particularly
in food packaging. Using Stratus wine bottles collected from both
consumers and the winery tasting room, Circulr conducted trials for
label removal, sterilization and food safety. These same bottles
were returned to Stratus and now hold a new and distinctive wine
which is ready for release on April
22 – Earth Day. "This is the start of something
truly impactful for the Canadian wine industry. We're excited to
keep growing this initiative and are fortunate to have found a
leader like Stratus that is willing to evoke change," says
Tyler DeSousa, co-founder of
Circulr.
2021 Stratus PVMT:
The wine selected for this landmark bottling is, appropriately,
also an innovation, but one founded in tradition. It is a Field
Blend of three very rare varieties in Ontario – Petit Verdot, Malbec and Tannat –
that were co-fermented in a nod to ancient ways. Unlike the
winery's signature "assemblage," in a field blend, it is the grapes
that are "blended" together before fermentation, not the finished
wines. Labelled PVMT, on eco-friendly paper with
water-soluble glue for easy removal, these varieties were
experimental plantings at Stratus – contributing to the winery's
philosophical trademark - "Diversity for Complexity." Unique and
delicious, the wine captures Stratus' sustainable spirit from grape
to glass.
About Stratus Vineyards
Set in the heart of Niagara, Ontario, Stratus Vineyards has always been at
the forefront of combining innovative techniques with time-honoured
traditions to create exceptional wines. Sustainability, quality and
design have been foundational for Stratus. Their 55-acre farm is
home to 16 grape varieties and is certified sustainable by
Sustainable Winegrowing Ontario.
SOURCE Stratus Vineyards Limited