President Obama drinks the best of Canada's wines

President Barack Obama enjoyed the finest in Canadian wine and cuisine at today's inaugural visit.

The lunch, hosted by Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, featured three courses of archetypal Canadian cuisine presented with a complementary wine selection that reflected the diversity of Canada's terroir and included wines from west to east.

The highly acclaimed 2002 Stratus Red produced in small quantities at Stratus Vineyards in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario was served with the main course of Applewood Smoked Plains Bison.

Launched in 2005 at the official opening of the winery, the 2002 Red marked the first of the Stratus Red lineage and was immediately hailed as a new benchmark of quality for the Canadian wine industry. In addition to the impressive portfolio of wines, Stratus' commitment to the environment allowed it to become the first winery in the world and the first building in Canada to have been accredited with LEED(TM) (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the Canada Green Building Council.

The winery is dedicated to producing ultra-premium VQA wines from its carefully managed 55-acre estate. The winery's signature wines, Stratus Red and Stratus White, are made from the assemblage of several grape varieties in order to capture the essence of vintage and vineyard in every bottle.

Canadians can be proud that the Government of Canada and Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada are committed to ensuring that the best of Canadian wine and food are represented at the world's most esteemed events that take place both in Canada and internationally.

Stratus is honoured that this debut vintage of Stratus Red has been uncorked in celebration of the US president's first foreign visit.

SOURCE: Stratus Vineyards

Charles Baker, Director of Marketing and Sales, Tel (905) 468-1806 x 235, Cell (905) 401-1806, charlesbaker@stratuswines.com; Suzanne Janke, Director of Hospitality and Retail, Tel (905) 468-1806 x 228, Cell (905) 321-0281, suzannejanke@stratuswines.com