A circa-1835 cobblestone house in Victor’s otherwise new-build High Point development is now home to Bonesteel Wines & Spirits, a design-forward, community-oriented shop which opened April 24.
The minority and woman-owned boutique wine and spirits shop is helmed by Tanvi Asher, who also owns Peppermint Boutique at the Culver Road Armory in Rochester.
“The store was built around the idea that wine should feel approachable and exciting, whether someone is deeply knowledgeable or just beginning to explore it,” says owner Tanvi Asher.
For Asher, a Rochester Institute of Technology design graduate who started Peppermint in a tiny storefront on Park Avenue in 2012, it was vital to bring her boutique experience to this new venture.
“I’ve always loved introducing people to something they may not have found on their own — whether that’s a new apparel designer or a wine from a small producer,” she said.
She added that in both worlds, there’s an emotional connection to the experience.
“There’s a strong element of discovery in both fashion and wine.”
In addition to the expected big-name brands, the store also sells a number of locally made spirits and wines. Asher and operations manager Becca Barnum both worked at vineyards in the Finger Lakes and fell in love with the region’s wine.
“We want our community to connect with the beautiful region we have on our doorstep,” Barnum said. “Our goal is for this shop to be an intimate place to learn not only about what small winemakers in the Finger Lakes are up to, but to connect Rochester to them.”
The shop features a highly curated selection of wines and spirits, with every label selected to reflect unique quality and stories not typically found elsewhere.
“We strongly emphasize smaller Finger Lakes producers, women winemakers and thoughtfully made products that tell a story,” Asher said.
Beyond retail, Bonesteel was designed as a gathering space. The store features a dedicated room for tastings, workshops and classes exploring wine’s connection to cuisine and culture, setting Bonesteel apart as a hub for exploration. Asher hopes the store will become a space where smaller producers and women winemakers are celebrated and where thoughtfully crafted wines and spirits, many of which are unavailable in typical liquor stores, are brought to the forefront for curious customers.
“My hope was to build something that feels less transactional and more like a gathering place,” she said. “Somewhere people can ask questions, discover something new and feel genuinely excited about what they’re bringing home.”
The name Bonesteel is a reference to the property’s and the community’s history.
“The Bonesteele family once lived here, and the site later became known as the Bonesteele Schoolhouse, a boys’ school that became part of Victor’s local history,” Asher said. “I loved the idea of preserving a name that already meant something to the area and giving it a new chapter.”
Asher chose Victor for Bonesteel due to a landlord connection and customer base from her previous store, Salty Boutique, which operated at Eastview Mall from 2019 to 2024. Victor is also one of the region’s fastest-growing suburbs, with residents excited about new local businesses and experiences.
“Over the years, many longtime Peppermint customers started families and made Victor their home, so there was already a sense of familiarity here,” she said. “I saw an opportunity to create something that felt elevated and community-oriented while still being approachable and welcoming.”
Barnum, likewise, hopes visitors to Bonesteel will find a discovery-driven experience, with unexpected, fun and intriguing spirits and wines rarely found elsewhere, highlighting the store’s commitment to offering something truly distinctive.
“We want to have a conversation with you, talk about your palate and introduce you to something delicious that fits that vibe but is not something you would generally reach for,” she said. “We want you to drink what you love, but to also stay curious. Every bottle is a memory, an adventure, a story just waiting to be told. Let’s go off the beaten path together.” bonesteelwines.com
Christopher Osburn is a food and drinks writer located in the Finger Lakes Region. He’s been writing professionally for more than 20 years and has had his work published by “Men’s Journal,” “Food & Wine,” “The Manual,” “VinePair” and more.
