Hamilton welcomed a new addition to its growing local business scene this fall with the opening of Hamilton Harvest Winery on Aug. 23. The boutique vineyard and tasting room blends traditional winemaking methods with a contemporary aesthetic and officially joined the local community this summer.
Located at 2307 NY 12-B just outside the village center, Hamilton Harvest offers both Colgate University students and Hamilton residents a new spot for gatherings, tastings and community events. The winery operates from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., except Sundays when it closes at 6 p.m., and remains closed on Tuesdays.
Tracy Peters and her fiancée, Jordan Ashcraft, founded Hamilton Harvest Winery and envisioned creating a space where the Hamilton community could celebrate small-batch winemaking. Peters, who left a 26-year career in nursing at Community Memorial Hospital, and Ashcraft, who has served as a project manager for Colgate and owner of Ashcraft Builders, committed themselves fully to the project.
The property where Hamilton Harvest now stands was previously abandoned, housing a dilapidated barn which would be converted into the winery. Ashcraft, as owner and operator of Ashcraft Builders, was responsible for much of the pre-opening renovations at Hamilton Harvest.
“When we found this property, it was a rundown abandoned farm,” Peters said. “We shared our vision of opening a winery with the village, and they loved that we wanted to restore it instead of tearing it down.”
The couple renovated the barn, built in the year 1805, over the course of two years, often working nights and weekends. Inside the revamped building, salvaged beams and rustic finishes preserve a record of its prior use.
Today, Hamilton Harvest features 11 wines crafted in partnership with Hosmer Winery in the Finger Lakes, ranging from a sweet, grape-forward Catawba to the dry “Runway Red,” named for the nearby airstrip. According to Peters, the community response to Hamilton Harvest’s opening and offerings has been enthusiastic.
“That Saturday, after we put the signs up [that we were opening], we were packed,” Peters said. “Friends, family and so many locals showed up. Since then, it’s been steady business.”
Colgate families and students have already become regular patrons. Among them is senior Riley Raymond, who praised the venue, its service and its ambience as a welcome addition to town.
“They have a really cute setup with a bar and some tables inside and a lot of tables outside,” Raymond said. “Everyone who works there is very friendly, and they have flights of wine for a pretty good price with lots of options. I really enjoyed it and definitely will be going back.”
Junior Lily Gamburg was among the first student visitors to Hamilton Harvest Winery and had a positive review.
“I really enjoyed the farmhouse vibe and the overall atmosphere. I can imagine it being somewhere I’d bring my friends and family from out of town,” Gamburg said.
In addition to its wines, Hamilton Harvest aims to serve as a cultural gathering place. The winery has already scheduled live music, with local acoustic guitarist Mark Sherwood set to perform on Sunday, Oct. 5. Future plans include paint-and-sip classes, seasonal events through Christmas and Valentine’s Day and eventually opening the “Big Barn Outback,” a private gathering space.
For Peters, the heart of the project lies in building connections.
“We want [Hamilton] Harvest to be a place where everyone can come, relax and feel part of something,” Peters said. “It’s been an amazing adventure so far, and it’s only just beginning.”
