STEVESTON WINEMAKERS

Inflation is causing many of us to consider our purchases; however, it is reassuring to know that if wine is your passion, you can still stock your wine cellar and save money.

Steveston Winemakers has been a Steveston fixture for 23 years, with both new and longterm customers producing bottles of wine from grapes around the world. Owners Heather Hannah and Bill Koopmans were initially customers; they purchased the business in 2018 to continue making the outstanding wines they love.

Homemade wines have come a long way and can be cellared for four to five years.

Bill says, “Many people cannot taste the difference unless they have a very sophisticated palate. We challenge the average person to taste the difference.”

They mention their daughter hosted a blind tasting party at her home featuring rosé wines. Her wine competed against commercially produced rosés and, impressively, placed second.

Heather and Bill have put considerable effort into making the business their own. Bill comes from an IT background and has skillfully applied his knowledge to create systems to easily reorder products and schedule when to rack and filter wines with the press of a button.

Heather has created a website that provides extensive information and is well worth a visit. You will discover a tasting wheel to learn which wines pair nicely with food, a wine profile chart, a cellaring and bottling chart, an extensive list of all the wine kits, and much more.

The store previously did not have a presence on social media and now can be found on Facebook, Instagram and has its own YouTube channel.

Staff member Paul offers a wealth of knowledge with over 30 years of experience in the wine-making business. Heather mentions he is so well-liked that clients often invite him for dinner.

Making your own wine is appealing for various reasons. There is a cost savings when a bottle of wine can be made for as little as $4.23 to $8.56 a bottle including taxes (bottles are not included in the price, but you will keep using them). There is also the satisfaction of crafting it yourself and raising a glass at the dinner table to toast your success.

A batch consists of 30 bottles, which customers have a hand in starting and finishing.

By law, customers must start fermentation by sprinkling the package of yeast into a large plastic bucket called the primary fermenter. From there, the staff take over and do the processing.

Fermentation usually takes 11 to 12 days before the wine is racked. Next, the liquid is siphoned from the primary fermenter into clear glass containers called carboys. The client receives a call when it is time to come in and bottle, cork, shrink-wrap and label their batch. Then, the bottles are ready to take home to be cellared in a cool, dark environment.

Pre-assembled winemaking kits from the world’s top commercial wine producers allow customers to create wines using varietal grapes from America, Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, and Spain.

Ontario wines have an excellent reputation but are rarely available in B.C. liquor stores. Save yourself the trip back east; at Steveston Winemakers, you can make your own Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio.

Some of the store’s top sellers include the Winery Series Malbec (Chile) and Winery Series Riesling Gewürztraminer (Australia), the Cru Select Cabernet Malbec Carménère (Chile), Cru Select Pinot Grigio (Italy), Cru International Meritage (Okanagan), and Cru International Pinot Grigio (Italy).

Allow time if you plan to make a batch of wine for a special occasion.

Some people hope to make wine for an event five weeks away. While “cheap and cheerful” can be produced in four weeks, depending on the varietal, wine requires a minimum of two to six months to age well.

How do you know when a bottle is ready? Bill quips, “Open a bottle, try it, and open another bottle if you like it! If not, leave it and wait.”

Another option is to bag wine instead of bottling it. This is handy if you would like to lighten your load on a sailboat or camping.

A commonly asked question is whether a group can make batches of wine to share. If one person makes a red, another makes a white, and a third makes a fruit, rosé or dessert wine, you will come home with three types of wines to cellar.

Their loyal clients come from far afield; some have moved away to Vancouver Island or the Fraser Valley but will make the trip back to their favourite U-Vin store. Heather reports, “A group of families come in four times a year and make it a day trip.”

The holiday season is fast upon us. Original gift ideas can be found, including kitchen towels, wine glasses, corkscrews, and gift certificates (in the form of a bottle) for the wine lovers on your list to make their own batch.

Heather and Bill enjoy hearing customers report that the shop provides excellent service and love the overall experience.

Bill says, “Our shop is the happiest place in Steveston. We love living, working, and actively participating in this wonderful community.”

Steveston Winemakers

12115 First Avenue Richmond, BC V7E 3M1

Phone 604-275-9463

Story by Sarah Gordon (Sept 2023)