SARATOGA SPRINGS — Old Tavern Farm established in 2016, known for its thoroughbred racehorses, is about to be known for their wines. Located on Brown Rd. right off Saratoga Lake, Old Tavern Farm ventured into the wine industry a year and a half ago and are now shipping across the United Sates. Daughter of Walt and Michelle Borisenok, Nicole is at the helm of this new venture called Old Tavern Farm Winery, an extension of Old Tavern Farm. While working for Victoria’s Secret in Manhattan as a product developer Borisenok found herself coming home to the farm nearly every weekend.
“When we were tossing around doing the winery, I was looking to move home. I love spending time there and I wanted to be a part of the farm so I said I’ll take the lead on this,” Borisenok said.
Through working with Cornell University’s Horticultural Section, Borisenok was able to determine that up the road from the farm grapes for Riesling, Chardonnay and Marquette wines are able to withstand the cold temperatures in upstate New York.
“One of the things we know is that you can’t grow everything in these kinds of temperatures... There’s no way we’re going to be able to grow a Cabernet Sauvignon so what we did instead of waiting to mature, we wanted to get out there and establish our brand,” Borisenok said
Borisenok and her family set out to find the right growers that would allow them to have quality control over the grapes and landed on plots in Washington and California. Old Tavern Farm Winery currently sells three wines that were released in June; a Cabernet Sauvignon called “Big Barn” that was inspired by the family’s thoroughbred horse barn, a Rosé called “Farm Fresh” after the flowers that line the horse paddocks and a Chardonnay called “Hen and Hay” for the 13 hens at the farm.
Borisenok credits part of the wine’s success to the Foal Patrol program created by The National Museum of Racing and Hall Of Fame. This year, a million people tuned in to view a live stream of a mare at Old Tavern Farm foal and give birth. The farm is set to participate in season two of Foal Patrol.
“That certainly helped put the wine on the map; because of that we’re shipping all over the country. Followers of Foal Patrol love the farm and want a way to connect with it,” Borisenok said.
“It’s an outlet for people to enjoy life on the farm... So that was just a great connection working hand in hand ... To feel like they’re on the journey with us which is pretty cool,” she added.
