Starting a Winery in Northern New York: Considerations and Costs

Lindsey Pashow, Ag Business Development & Marketing Specialist
Harvest New York

December 19, 2017
Starting a Winery in Northern New York: Considerations and Costs

Are you interested in starting a winery in Northern New York? CCE Harvest New York has put together a report and interactive Excel spreadsheets on Starting a Winery in Northern New York: Winery Establishment Considerations and Costs.

The report provides a general overview of starting a winery in Northern New York. You will find information on current wine sales, markets, winery establishment costs, licensing resources, growing grapes vs purchasing grapes or juice, winery building, and potential financial help resources.

Additionally, we have created Excel spreadsheets to help you determine some start-up costs and considerations. Within the Cost Calculating Spreadsheet, you will find worksheets (tabs along the bottom) for Yield per Vine, Yield per Acre, a Tank Size Calculator (embedded in the Yield worksheets) and Production Establishment Cost. Instructions are provided on the top of each worksheet.

NOTE: The spreadsheets can be used for the entire New York wine industry. They are provided as a general idea of the costs associated with establishing or expanding a winery and are not intended as a must-have list or an all-inclusive list.



Starting a Winery in NNY: Winery Establishment Considerations and Costs (pdf; 2296KB)

Cost Calculating Spreadsheets - download (xlsx; 37KB)
  • Use these interactive worksheets to calculate yield, tank sizes, equipment and additional costs.



view calendar of events

Upcoming Events

2025 Agroforestry Field Day Series -- Tour of Agroforestry and Silvopasture Systems

September 4, 2025
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Goshen, NY

Interested in incorporating agroforestry practices into your farm? Join us for a series of workshops co-hosted by CCE Ulster, Orange, and Harvest NY with Mastwood Farms, Black Creek Farm and Nursery and Scenic Hudson. 

On this evening, join project director Alix Daguin and other staff at All One One All Farm in Goshen, NY for a two hour walk-and-talk tour to learn about the agroforestry systems they have planted at their regenerative farm which integrates livestock and tree crops. Successes, challenges, as well as systems of implementation and management will be covered.

2025 Cornell High-Cannabinoid Hemp Cannabis sativa Field Day

Event Offers DEC Credits

September 10, 2025
8:30 am - 6:00 pm
Geneva, NY

Join us for a full day of learning and discussion, connecting and having fun! The Cornell Cannabis sativa L. (Hemp) Field Day features interactive workshops, demonstrations, and panel discussions on the latest industry advancements for New York growers and other stakeholders. Topics include:
  • controlled environment agriculture
  • soil health and composting
  • disease management and tissue culture
  • genetics of color and minor cannabinoids
  • post-harvest, drying, and curing
  • NYS Office of Cannabis Management updates and fireside chat

Cultivating Climate Resilience of Urban Agriculture in New York City

September 24, 2025
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
New York, NY

A Panel Presentation and Hands-on Soil Health Demo!

Join the New York Climate Exchange and Cornell Cooperative Extension's Ag Climate Resiliency Program, New York Soil Health, and Harvest NY for a Soil Health Field Day in Governor's Island. This event focuses on best practices for building climate resilience on urban farms and is part of the 2025 Soil Health and Climate Resilience Field Days. It will offer a farm tour, as well as valuable insights and hands-on demonstrations to enhance soil health through biochar applications.

Whether you're a seasoned farmer or just getting started, this event is perfect for anyone who wants to learn the basics of climate resilience, adaptation planning, and soil health-- hearing directly from urban farmers in New York City. 

Announcements

New Produce Auctions in NYS!

With the opening of the new Augusta Produce Auction on August 19th, New York State now has 11 produce auctions! See the new map of produce auction locations across the state and contact information.

New York Urban Farms Sustainable Pest Management Fact Sheet Series

Cornell Cooperative Extension has partnered with dozens of urban farms across New York State to demonstrate and evaluate sustainable pest management strategies. Together with farmers, we found success using control methods that prevent or reduce crop losses through exclusion strategies, crop timing, host resistance, the introduction of beneficial organisms, and more. Regardless of management strategy used, common requirements for success include a knowledge of the pest and disease complex, preventative deployment and commitment to the process. The New York Urban Farms Sustainable Pest Management Fact Sheet Series includes case studies highlighting pest management techniques that New York urban farms have found valuable.