HAMBURG (WKBW) — It's the refreshing take on the traditional wine bar that has been turning heads in the Village of Hamburg, and now Alchemy Wine & Beer is looking to expand.
Anne McIntosh and Nicole Casell, the co-owners of Alchemy Wine & Beer, tell 7 News that they have recently purchased land in Chautauqua County that will be known as "Alchemy Acres".
"It's a large 64-acre property out toward Chautauqua, it's in Portland," says Casell, "That's our venture into grape farming, but we plan to host a large flower farm and event space eventually out that way."
The decision to expand into agriculture speaks to the success that the two long time friends have had in Hamburg.
Alchemy Wine & Beer originally opened in 2018 with McIntosh and Casell looking to recreate the relaxed atmosphere that they experienced at a backyard wine bar during a bachelorette trip to New Orleans.
"We were just super inspired by it," says Casell. "We were drinking Bordeaux and super great wines, but at a plastic patio table, under a willow tree. . . . All of the girls liked the atmosphere so much that we ended up cancelling our entire day of plans and stayed at that place for probably 8 hours."
Alchemy Wine & Beer has taken that relaxed concept and added its own spin.
"When you walk in I don't want you to think of your traditional wine bar with white table cloths, that is stuffy and stodgy, we want it to be young, cool and hip." says McIntosh. "You grab your own bottle of wine, stay as long as you like, drink as much or little as you want. We can cork it. You can take it home. It's been amazing."
"We lean into all the craft beverages," added Casell, "smaller boutique brands that you are not going to see in the big box stores."
Customers can choose from a carefully curated list of 75 wines and 50 beers. There are also craft cocktails available, and if bubbles are your thing, Alchemy has Prosecco on tap.
"We are the number one seller of kegged Prosecco wine outside of New York City," says McIntosh. "We sell 200 kegs of Prosecco a year."
Adding to the experience is a "build your own charcuterie board" station where you can select the cheeses, meats and crackers that you like, and they are plated and brought to your table.
It's an approach that has made Alchemy Wine & Beer one of the go to destinations for events in the Southtowns. The space welcomed more than 75 events in 2022 including wedding showers, baby showers, drag shows and craft classes.
"We can't tell you the number of times people have booked engagement parties with us and say 'Our first date was at Alchemy now we are getting married', says Casell, "then a year later 'we want you to host our baby shower here', or a bridal shower here."
It is that demand for events that led the team to purchase the land for "Alchemy Acres."
The flowers that are grown there will be available for private events, weddings and showers, as well as on a grab and go basis inside the bar during the spring.
Alchemy can now also take the show on the road with a fleet of mobile bubble bars that make stops at a large number of farmers markets and events throughout the warmer months.
All of this with McIntosh and Casell both raising young families. The friends have a total of 5 children under the age of 6 between them while still finding the time to run a successful business that continues to grow.
"I think we have achieved what we set out to do, created a community space that is relaxed not pretentious," says McIntosh.
"I would just want people to have a fun time here," added Casell, "To look back on a time at Alchemy, a party attended, an event, or just a Friday night and say wow that was a nice night and a really fun time."
Alchemy Wine & Beer is open Monday through Saturday from 4 p.m. until close. The bar does not take reservations but encourages parties larger than 10 to call ahead.
