Finger Lakes couple nurturing brand of wines that 'don’t really check a box but are all about joy'
Vagabond Wines is the creation of winemaker Alex Bond and her husband Jimmer Bond.
There are a number of winemakers working on multiple brands as they build their career and find ways to express their talents.
One of those is Alex Bond, who has worked in the Finger Lakes wine industry since spring 2011. After stops at Hector Wine Company and Damiani Wine Cellars, among others, she took a position last year with Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards as a head vinifera winemaker.
Meanwhile, she and her husband Jimmer, years after meeting and mostly taking separate paths in the industry, started their own brand called Vagabond Wines in 2022.
In their winery bio, they called it a growing but bootstrap little winery, where they make Dry Riesling, Chardonnay, a low-alcohol red sparkling called Farmer Fizz, Cabernet Franc, Blaufränkisch and a red table blend called Little Sparrow. Private tastings are available by appointment. More information is available at this link.
“We aren’t dogmatic in our practices but choose to focus on a gentle approach, utilizing ancient techniques like foot stomping, ambient fermentations and lees stirring to achieve wines that are fresh and energetic, with just a light touch,: the introduction to the winery notes on the website.
While there is no tasting room, Vagabond’s wines are sampled and sold at pop-ups, private tastings and other events. They ship domestically (for now, email alexbondflx@gmail.com for any orders you’d like to place), and you can also find their wines at retailers and restaurants in the region.
Bond sent back answers to these questions about their venture and the wines she makes.
Q, Tell me about Vagabond, why you both decided to start it and what it allows you to do as a winemaker.
A, Vagabond was started after the birth of our son during the pandemic. Everything changed for us that year and after the existential question of “can I even be a mom AND a winemaker?” was answered in the affirmative. I knew I needed to start our dream project of making our own wine, together as a family. My husband has been in the wine industry for 20 years (vineyard and production) and for me now, its 15 years of making wine. We’d always talked about doing something on the side where we got to make the wines we really wanted. Ones that don’t really check a box but are all about joy. It was in becoming a mother that I knew I had to make it happen and not just live in our dreams anymore.
Q, Where can one get your wines, and where do you source your grapes from? Have a couple of the wines taken off in terms of popularity?
A, You can get all of our current releases at Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards in Hector where I work as the vinifera winemaker. We are also out in the wild at retail shops and restaurants from Rochester down through the Finger Lakes. Soon, we’ll be expanding distribution. More on that once its all finalized! We source our grapes through our friends who are growers, where we have special relationships. Most of them are on the southeast side of Seneca Lake. We’ve been selling wine fast and trying to determine which wines will be mainstays as we grow. We know we’ll make Chardonnay, Dry Riesling and Cabernet Franc every year. We sometimes make Blaufrankisch and are looking at Gamay for the future. We also make a fun funky low-alc sparkling red that we call Farmer Fizz. We never thought it would be more than a one-time, thing but its one of our best sellers, so I think we’ll keep it around. Its about 1/3 piquette (give or take depending on the vintage) and the rest a red hybrid medley with some carbonic Cab Franc blended in. Its fun, fizzy, completely dry, and people love it.
Q, Tell me about the importance to you about making low-intervention wines.
A, Its more important to me to make good wine, so I’m not dogmatic in my approach when it comes to low intervention. I just prefer to use a gentle hand and let the wine tell the story when I can.
Q, Has your approach changed much since you began as a winemaker ... and just so I’m familiar with the background, did you start your career at Hazlitt? What got you into the business?
A, My approach has probably evolved without my having even realized it. I started at Thirsty Owl as a wide-eyed kid wanting to get her hands dirty and learn everything. My first real winemaking job was a dual position as assistant winemaker, shared between Sawmill Creek Estate and Forge Cellars. I was with Sawmill, working alongside my mentors, Justin Boyette and Jason Hazlitt for 10 years, where I became a partner and associate winemaker later on, and at Forge for the first 7 of those 10, where I also had the opportunity to work alongside owner and wine legend, Rick Rainey, and French partner, Louis Barroul, in Gigondas, FR. After my son was born, I changed gears and went to work for Damiani Wine Cellars. It was Phil Davis, Glenn Allen (owners) and Katey Larwood (head winemaker) who took a chance on me as a new mom and winemaker. And that’s where Vagabond was born and where I really honed in on who I was as a winemaker.
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I met Alex and Jimmer in the Finger Lakes and their wine is amazing. Great people, great talent.