Nestled in the heart of New York’s Finger Lakes AVA, Vagabond Wines is a dynamic, micro-production, artisanal project founded in 2022 by husband-and-wife team Alex and Jimmer Bond.
The name Vagabond, far from a simple play on their surname or a nod to their free-spirited philosophy, serves as a deliberate homage to the winding paths that brought them here. Also, to the eccentric, dedicated community of growers, friends, and fellow misfits who have walked alongside them. Built on a foundation of thoughtful viticulture, minimal intervention, and pure intention, Vagabond was born from a desire to craft honest, high-vibrancy wines designed, above all else, to bring pleasure to the glass.
Alex’s trajectory into winemaking was ignited in the dining rooms of New York City, where a taste of Hermann J. Wiemer Dry Riesling altered her career path. Drawn north to the Finger Lakes in 2010, she fell in love with the region’s serene, bucolic landscape and its close-knit community. Over the last decade-plus, Alex has refined her craft in the cellars of some of the region's benchmark estates, including Bloomer Creek, Forge Cellars, Hector Wine Company, and Damiani Wine Cellars. Today, alongside Vagabond, she is the head winemaker at Hazlitt 1852 Cellars.
A Finger Lakes native through and through, Jimmer entered the wine world at just 17 years old at Bagley’s Poplar Ridge Vineyards (now also home to Ria’s Wines). Over the years, he systematically worked his way through cellars and vineyards across the AVA, developing an in-depth appreciation of the region’s complex soils and unique microclimates. His expertise lies at the source: careful vine cultivation, sustainable farming, and an unwavering respect for the land.
Vagabond is deliberately unburdened by rigid winemaking dogma. Instead, Alex and Jimmer favor a pragmatic, gentle hand in the cellar, leaning into traditional, ancient practices that allow the true voice of the terroir and grape to shine through. That includes native, wild yeast fermentations as well as gentle foot-treading to help preserve delicate aromatics and create a fine, well-integrated tannin structure. Aging occurs in neutral oak with periodic lees stirring (particularly on white wines) to build mouthfeel, mid-palate weight, and depth. The goal overall is to craft wines defined by varietal expression, tension, and focused energy.
As part of their Vagabond philosophy, the range of wines can vary from vintage to vintage depending on both availability of high-quality grapes and a little winemaker’s whim. There is usually a Dry Riesling showcasing high-toned acidity, minerality, and precise, citrus-driven fruit. Often there is also Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc each made in a classic, elegant style. Sometimes there is also a Red Blend, usually from Bordeaux varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. The Bonds have also done fun sparkling blends of both hybrid and vinifera grapes as a fun, breezy nod to these heritage hybrid grapes captured for maximum drinkability.
Alex and Jimmer Bond represent the new generation of Finger Lakes wine producers, driven by the roots they’ve planted both personally and professionally and putting wines in the bottle that celebrate their home, the people and all the vineyards have to offer.