Nikki Borisenok ’08

“As my mom says every horse farm needs a winery,” said Nikki Borisenok ’08. After four years of working for Victoria’s Secret’s product development and innovation team, Nikki traded her corporate world in New York City for country life on the family farm, Old Tavern Farm in Saratoga Springs to start her own winery. Old Tavern Farm is a boutique thoroughbred horse breeding farm with 15 horses, a chicken coop, and Porkchop the pig. Now Nikki has expanded the business with the addition of her boutique winery. She graduated from Ithaca College in 2012 with a degree in International Business and Marketing. Spoken like a true entrepreneur, Nikki said, “It’s all about developing your product, sourcing your product, establishing your brand, selling your product, and knowing and connecting with your customers.” She started this journey in June 2017 with the help of Cornell University’s Viticulture and Enology Program. This summer marks her first vintage sourcing grapes from both Lodi, California and Columbia Valley, Washington. So far, she has introduced three unique wines to the region. Nikki’s future vineyard is already underway. She will begin planting her own vines in May 2019 and intends to grow Riesling, Chardonnay, and Marquette grapes. In addition, she plans to open a tasting facility for special events and parties. As Nikki was describing the wine-making process she pointed to a machine and said, “This is Marcia—the corker.” She continued to explain the inspiration behind the names of her wines: Hen and Hay Chardonnay was inspired by the chickens that flaunt themselves on top of the hay; Farm Fresh Rosé was inspired by the fresh cut flower garden alongside the horse paddock; and Big Barn Cabernet Sauvignon was inspired by Old Tavern Farm’s signature horse barn. When asked about her time at the Academies, Nikki replied, “Academy gave me the foundation and pushed me to feel confident that I could go on and take the next step.” Her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs, “Do it! It’s hard but equally rewarding.”