Barrel Necessities at Randall-Standish Vineyards

About Barrel Necessities at Randall-Standish Vineyards

Barrel Necessities is a small farm winery set on the historic Randall-Standish Vineyards property in the hills above Canandaigua Lake, in the heart of New York's Finger Lakes. Co-owners Thomas "TJ" Brahm and Melissa Woolley earned their farm winery license and launched Barrel Necessities in 2023, adding a tasting experience to land the Randall and Standish families have farmed for more than 50 years — with roots tracing to the early 1800s, when both families migrated to the area from New England.

The winery pours five varietals, with additional releases added seasonally, available to sample, by the glass, or as a flight in the property's barn showroom. The wines are made from estate-grown Finger Lakes fruit, the same vineyards that supply Randall-Standish's long-established grape juices.

Beyond the tasting room, the Randall-Standish operation has pressed grape juice for home and commercial winemakers for decades, offering more than 15 juice varieties each fall along with home-winemaking supplies sold under the Barrel Necessities name. The tasting room keeps limited hours (Saturdays 12–4 PM, expanding to seven days a week during the fall harvest) and hosts seasonal events, including an annual fall wine competition with food trucks and live music.