The coronavirus pandemic forced all businesses to adapt to a completely unknown consumer market forcing them to navigate the obstacles of stay-at-home orders, closed doors, limited hours and seeking innovative solutions to stay alive.
Stoney Creek’s Ridge Road Winery was no different as the owners searched for ways to keep afloat while still providing their artisanal wines to eager customers.
“We had to rejig our service,” said Jill Macdonald, who has worked at the winery for about four-and-a-half years.
The winery still had a loyal customer base, which the owners appreciated, but more was needed to be done to keep the operation viable. So the owners decided to offer free door-to-door delivery. The winery also engaged in social media marketing to communicate its various products with potential customers.
“That really kept us going,” said Macdonald. “We slowly made our way through it. And we did OK.”
After six months the winery is surviving as it looks to the future.
The retail store is open, and the winery is still providing free doorstep delivery Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The winery provides free shipping with the purchase of six bottles or more.
When the provincial government allowed restaurants and bars to open patios, Ridge Road Estate Winery took advantage of the opportunity. The decision has paid dividends, she said, allowing tastings and wine by the glass.
“It has been relatively busy throughout the summer,” she said.
The winery also has one of the largest tasting rooms in the area, and for $10 that includes food pairing overseen by the winery’s expert staff.
Macdonald said the winery has cut back on attending area farmers’ markets, but does participate in the Ancaster Farmers’ Market every Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The market’s last day is Oct. 7.
The winery also attends the Hamilton Farmers’ Market at 35 York Blvd. every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The winery also participated in the two Farm Crawls during the summer that attracted “quite a few people,” that included children, said Macdonald.
As the summer eases into fall, Ridge Road Estate Winery will continue to operate its patio as long as the weather holds out, said Macdonald.
She said the winery will install heaters on the patio to keep patrons warm.
Macdonald said the winery is encouraging people to have a drink on the patio and watch a sunset. These “sunset specials” include a boxed charcuterie on Friday and Saturdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Reservations are required at wine@ridgeroadwinery.com.
The sixth-generation family-operated winery has been around since 1875 when its grapes and orchards provided some of the fruit to E.D. Smith’s jam operations in a mutually productive partnership.
“He was an original investor,” said Macdonald.
She said because of the hot summer, the grapes are now being harvested over the last week, slightly early than usual. She said the pinot noir and the chardonnay grapes are “looking amazing,” while the baco noir is also receiving high marks.
“These are probably the best crops we’ve had in a while,” she said.
The coronavirus pandemic forced all businesses to adapt to a completely unknown consumer market forcing them to navigate the obstacles of stay-at-home orders, closed doors, limited hours and seeking innovative solutions to stay alive.
Stoney Creek’s Ridge Road Winery was no different as the owners searched for ways to keep afloat while still providing their artisanal wines to eager customers.
“We had to rejig our service,” said Jill Macdonald, who has worked at the winery for about four-and-a-half years.
The winery still had a loyal customer base, which the owners appreciated, but more was needed to be done to keep the operation viable. So the owners decided to offer free door-to-door delivery. The winery also engaged in social media marketing to communicate its various products with potential customers.
“That really kept us going,” said Macdonald. “We slowly made our way through it. And we did OK.”
After six months the winery is surviving as it looks to the future.
The retail store is open, and the winery is still providing free doorstep delivery Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The winery provides free shipping with the purchase of six bottles or more.
When the provincial government allowed restaurants and bars to open patios, Ridge Road Estate Winery took advantage of the opportunity. The decision has paid dividends, she said, allowing tastings and wine by the glass.
“It has been relatively busy throughout the summer,” she said.
The winery also has one of the largest tasting rooms in the area, and for $10 that includes food pairing overseen by the winery’s expert staff.
Macdonald said the winery has cut back on attending area farmers’ markets, but does participate in the Ancaster Farmers’ Market every Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The market’s last day is Oct. 7.
The winery also attends the Hamilton Farmers’ Market at 35 York Blvd. every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The winery also participated in the two Farm Crawls during the summer that attracted “quite a few people,” that included children, said Macdonald.
As the summer eases into fall, Ridge Road Estate Winery will continue to operate its patio as long as the weather holds out, said Macdonald.
She said the winery will install heaters on the patio to keep patrons warm.
Macdonald said the winery is encouraging people to have a drink on the patio and watch a sunset. These “sunset specials” include a boxed charcuterie on Friday and Saturdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Reservations are required at wine@ridgeroadwinery.com.
The sixth-generation family-operated winery has been around since 1875 when its grapes and orchards provided some of the fruit to E.D. Smith’s jam operations in a mutually productive partnership.
“He was an original investor,” said Macdonald.
She said because of the hot summer, the grapes are now being harvested over the last week, slightly early than usual. She said the pinot noir and the chardonnay grapes are “looking amazing,” while the baco noir is also receiving high marks.
“These are probably the best crops we’ve had in a while,” she said.
The coronavirus pandemic forced all businesses to adapt to a completely unknown consumer market forcing them to navigate the obstacles of stay-at-home orders, closed doors, limited hours and seeking innovative solutions to stay alive.
Stoney Creek’s Ridge Road Winery was no different as the owners searched for ways to keep afloat while still providing their artisanal wines to eager customers.
“We had to rejig our service,” said Jill Macdonald, who has worked at the winery for about four-and-a-half years.
The winery still had a loyal customer base, which the owners appreciated, but more was needed to be done to keep the operation viable. So the owners decided to offer free door-to-door delivery. The winery also engaged in social media marketing to communicate its various products with potential customers.
“That really kept us going,” said Macdonald. “We slowly made our way through it. And we did OK.”
After six months the winery is surviving as it looks to the future.
The retail store is open, and the winery is still providing free doorstep delivery Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The winery provides free shipping with the purchase of six bottles or more.
When the provincial government allowed restaurants and bars to open patios, Ridge Road Estate Winery took advantage of the opportunity. The decision has paid dividends, she said, allowing tastings and wine by the glass.
“It has been relatively busy throughout the summer,” she said.
The winery also has one of the largest tasting rooms in the area, and for $10 that includes food pairing overseen by the winery’s expert staff.
Macdonald said the winery has cut back on attending area farmers’ markets, but does participate in the Ancaster Farmers’ Market every Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The market’s last day is Oct. 7.
The winery also attends the Hamilton Farmers’ Market at 35 York Blvd. every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The winery also participated in the two Farm Crawls during the summer that attracted “quite a few people,” that included children, said Macdonald.
As the summer eases into fall, Ridge Road Estate Winery will continue to operate its patio as long as the weather holds out, said Macdonald.
She said the winery will install heaters on the patio to keep patrons warm.
Macdonald said the winery is encouraging people to have a drink on the patio and watch a sunset. These “sunset specials” include a boxed charcuterie on Friday and Saturdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Reservations are required at wine@ridgeroadwinery.com.
The sixth-generation family-operated winery has been around since 1875 when its grapes and orchards provided some of the fruit to E.D. Smith’s jam operations in a mutually productive partnership.
“He was an original investor,” said Macdonald.
She said because of the hot summer, the grapes are now being harvested over the last week, slightly early than usual. She said the pinot noir and the chardonnay grapes are “looking amazing,” while the baco noir is also receiving high marks.
“These are probably the best crops we’ve had in a while,” she said.