We like to hold events because the best part of owning a store in the village is spending time with our customers. Our events usually involve food, prizes and refreshments. DIY winemakers can share each others’ winemaking experiences and learn about customizing their wines. They can also mingle with the owners and staff in a casual setting and ask questions. In our giftware section, shoppers can find unique and practical anniversary, birthday, shower, wedding or seasonal gifts. Become a customer so you’ll be invited to all our events!
May through August 2023 Customer Appreciation Draws
Our customers mean the world to us, so we’re having draws for free wine kits from May through August! In each month, customers who have purchased kits and made their wines on premise during the past two years are automatically in the draw.
We’ve selected our top selling wines in the Platinum, Gold and Silver categories so every winner promises to be happy! The winners will be contacted by phone or email.
2022 Holiday Window Display Contest
O Come All Ye Grapeful! That’s the name of the Steveston Winemakers Holiday Window Display. We had lots of fun with it so come on by and read the grapeful sayings on the wine glasses. We’re grapeful to for your votes from December 1st to 31st. Pick up a ballot at the store and drop it off at the Steveston Museum and Post Office or the Steveston Tram. We hope you have a grape holiday season!
2022 Festival of Trees
O Come All Ye Grapeful! That’s the name of the Steveston Winemakers Christmas Tree at the Gulf of Georgia Cannery Festival of Trees. We’re grapeful to be able to participate again and also for your votes from December 1st to 22nd. Regular admission applies and we hope you have a grape holiday season!
2022 Girls Night Out
There’s lots to do on Girls Night Out in Steveston but Guys are always welcome too! It’s a great time to get into the holiday spirit, win some prizes and take advantage of savings. Here’s what we’ve got planned for his year – GIRLS stands for:
- Gifts – Discount coupon for $15 off winemaking plus a wine gift bag and surprise gift
- Ideas – Christmas gifts for wine lovers
- Read – Juice-tasting from one of our wine kits
- Luck – Enter to wine one of 3 of our top wine kits plus guess the number of corks in a carboy to win a prize
- Sales – 25% – 50% off selected wine accessories and $13 to $16 off selected wine kits
2022 Steveston Scarecrow Crawl
Corky here! Come on by Tuesdays through Saturdays, check-in on Facebook, take a selfie, upload it to your social media pages and tag us. We’ve put the social media tags are on a sign around Corky’s neck and can’t wait to see your photos!
May through August 2022 Customer Appreciation Draws
We appreciate the loyalty of our customers so much that we’re having draws for free wine kits from May through August! In each month, customers who have purchased kits and made their wines on premise during the past year are automatically in the draw.
We’ve selected our top selling wines in the Platinum, Gold and Silver categories so every winner promises to be happy! The winners will be contacted by phone or email.
2021 Holiday Window Display Contest
We’re delighted to participate in the City of Richmond’s Holiday Window Display Contest again this year. We hope everyone enjoys our Christmas Cheer theme. With gratitude to Margaret from the Richmond Hospital/Healthcare Auxiliary Thrift Shop, we’re happy to support that cause for our theme this year. You can vote for us at the Steveston Museum and Post Office.
2021 Steveston Scarecrow Crawl
The Steveston Scarecrow Crawl is a great opportunity to get outside and explore Steveston. For the entire month of October come and check out our adorable Scarecrow “Corky”. She’s sporting something new this year – can you figure out what it is?. Take a selfie and upload it to your social media pages. Make it fun and show off your smiles and sense of humour. We’ve put the social media tags are on a sign around Corky’s neck and can’t wait to see your photos!
July and August 2021 Customer Appreciation Draws
We appreciate the loyalty of our customers so much that we’re having draws throughout July and August! There are wine kits, insulated tumblers and a backpack up for grabs.
For July, all customers who made wine on our premises from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2021 will automatically go into the draw. For August, all customers who made wine on our premises from August 1, 2019 to July 31, 2021 will automatically go into the draw.
The 6 wine kit winners can pick a red, white or rosé wine kit of their choice from the RJS Craft Winemaking series they won.
June 2021 Doors Open Online
We’re excited to be participating in Doors Open Online again this year. Join us online from June 5th to 12th to learn about the evolution of winemaking, meet our team and find out more about how you can make your own wines.
May/June 2021 Mother’s Day/Father’s Day Draws
We appreciate the loyalty of our customers so much that we’re having a draw on Mother’s Day and on Father’s Day for a free wine kit!
For Mother’s Day, all customers who made wine on our premises from May 1, 2019 to April 30, 2021 will automatically go into the draw. For Father’s Day, all customers who made wine on our premises from June 1, 2019 to May 31, 2021 will automatically go into the draw.
The winner can pick a red, white or rosé wine kit of their choice from the RJS Craft Winemaking series including:
- Winery Series (Platinum)
- Cru Select (Gold)
- Cru International (Silver)
- Heritage Estates (Bronze)
December 2020 Richmond Food Bank Fundraiser
The Richmond Food Bank serves over 2,200 people in average every week. It’s not government funded so they rely on our community donating to help our neighbours in need. Every dollar goes a long way because it means they can distribute about $6 worth of food. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, we’re noticing lineups at the food bank growing.
Here’s how both our customers and Steveston Winemakers helped make a difference for those in our community struggling to put food on the table for their families. For every kit on sale that was sold, we matched the discount and donated it to the food bank. Customers also chose to forego their discount, which donated too!
2020 Holiday Window Contest
2020 Steveston Scarecrow Crawl
The Steveston Scarecrow Crawl is a great opportunity to get outside and explore Steveston. For the entire month of October come and check out our adorable Scarecrow “Corky”. She’s had a makeover and used her corkscrew lures to catch quite a few fish and also some other treasures. Take a selfie and upload it to your social media pages. Make it fun and show off your smiles and sense of humour. We’ve put the social media tags are on a sign around Corky’s neck and can’t wait to see your photos!
20th Anniversaries
2020 is very special. It means we’re celebrating FIVE 20th Anniversaries! First, Steveston Winemakers has been in business for 20 years. Second, the owners have been doing DIY craft winemaking here for 20 years. Third, the RJS Restricted Quantities program has been running for 20 years. Fourth, the owners have been living in Steveston for 20 years. Lastly, the owners have been together for 20 years.
We wanted to share the joy so we teamed up with RJS Craft Winemaking to create an unforgettable virtual event in June. Over 5 days, there are 100 prizes – 20 for each anniversary. Prizes range from $10 to $225 and all current Steveston Winemakers (except staff) are automatically in the draw. Congratulations to all winners!
2020 Doors Open
Doors Open Online, which takes you behind the scenes at our facility, shows you our wine production area. First, take a video tour and also learn about the winemaking process from start to finish. Finally, you’ll see how DIY winemaking is an art that’s also a fun, green and safe craft. Check out our FAQs for more info.
2019 Festival of Trees
Christmas Cheer! That’s the name of the Steveston Winemakers Christmas Tree at the Gulf of Georgia Cannery Festival of Trees. We hope you vote for our tree and it adds some Christmas Cheer to your holidays. Admission is free on Cannery Farmers’ Market Sundays (Dec. 1, 8 & 15). Bring a donation for the Richmond Food Bank to receive a voting token. Regular admission applies on all other days. A token to vote for your favourite tree is included with admission. If you bring a donation for the Richmond Food Bank, you’ll receive another voting token. Vote for Christmas Cheer!
2019 Winter in the Village
2019 Girls Night Out
This annual November favourite gets better every year as ladies get a night out to shop for the holidays! At Steveston Winemakers, shoppers can taste some unfermented wine (the juice before yeast is added) so they get an idea of the flavours the wine will have. They’ll find lots of gifts for the wine enthusiasts on their list. Almost every store and restaurant in the village are open and have special discounts that evening. Gearing up for 2020, we had to have a “Roaring Twenties” photo booth. Guessing how many corks fit in a huge glass carboy was fun too. Congratualtions to Nicole who won a Napa divided picnic cooler with cheesboard and corkscrew for guessing closest to the correct number!
2019 Scarecrow Crawl & Trick or Treat
We love to participate in the annual Steveston Scarecrow Crawl and Trick or Treat events. Owners, Hawkeye (Bill) and Hotlips (Heather) were doling out what some called “their favourite” treats to over 400 kids dressed in some amazing costumes. Everyone had fun with Corky, including his girlfriend and a potential wine thief.
In Store Experience
Make your own event when you come into the store by checking out our new in store experience. In the retail area, there’s a wine rack filled with all the personalized wine labels you can use. On top you’ll find our Art of Craft Winemaking display and have a chance to treat your senses to different oak aromas. There’s also some educational info about ingredients that may go into your wines and why.
2019 Customer Appreciation Days
A new twist on this event, it was for 3 full days instead of half a day! A most delicious Acai Raspberry Rapture unfermented wine was served while customers browsed and bought wine. The best deals of the year were offered along with 2 free Platinum En Primeur Winery Series batches.
2018 Girls Night Out
An annual November favourite, ladies can have some fun doing their holiday shopping together. At Steveston Winemakers, shoppers can taste some unfermented wine (the juice before yeast is added) so they get an idea of the flavours the wine will have. They’ll find lots of gifts for the wine enthusiasts on their list. Almost every store and restaurant in the village are open and have special discounts that evening.
Passing the Torch
Bill and Heather take over the helm as Sandi and Simon sail into retirement. Customers for 18 years, they’re excited about becoming more involved in this very special community. The new owners also volunteer in the business and residential RCMP Block Watch Program.
