Honey Wine: What is Honey Wine?

Did you know honey wine, also known as mead, predates beer and grape wine, making it one of the oldest alcoholic beverages in human history? For thousands of years, cultures across Asia, Africa, and Europe have cherished this golden nectar, blending it with myth, tradition, and celebration. Today, we’re rediscovering honey wine as both a historic treasure and a modern-day delight.

Honey wine, typically referred to as mead, is an alcoholic beverage created by fermenting honey with water. When a winemaker chooses to blend honey with grape wine, it can also be termed "honey wine," though it is distinct from traditional mead. Importantly, grape-based wines sweetened with honey are not considered pure mead but another type of honey-infused alcohol.

Mead is believed to be one of the oldest alcoholic beverages, with roots stretching back over 5,000 years to regions in Asia and Africa. It flourished in ancient cultures worldwide—including among the Vikings, who were famous for their love of mead. Ethiopian tej, a honey wine made with a distinctive ingredient called gesho, is another testament to the beverage's enduring legacy. While beer and grape wine took center stage due to the accessibility of their ingredients, honey wine remains a drink steeped in history, mythology, and craftsmanship.

Fun Fact

The term "honeymoon" has its roots in mead! Newlyweds in ancient cultures often drank honey wine for a full moon cycle to enhance fertility and harmony in marriage.

Honey wine may offer health benefits, thanks to its primary ingredient—honey! Unboiled honey is packed with antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties, and immune-supporting nutrients, many of which can survive the fermentation process. While the levels may be slightly reduced, mead can still provide a unique blend of nutrients that make it more than just a beverage.

Historically, mead was also used for medicinal purposes, believed to aid digestion and improve vitality. Additionally, one of the best things about honey wine is that it’s entirely gluten-free, making it accessible to more people seeking alternatives to traditional drinks.

Imagine the sweetness of honey mixing with the layered complexity of fine wine. Mead's flavor profile is as diverse as its history, ranging from dry to sweet depending on the fermentation process and ingredients used. Traditional meads—made solely with honey, water, and yeast—offer a flavor reminiscent of white wine, with floral and rich notes that highlight the honey's natural qualities.

For those new to honey wine, it’s often compared to Moscato for its sweet and approachable taste. However, mead offers unmatched versatility:

• Dry meads deliver crisp, refreshing flavors akin to a fine chardonnay.
• Sweet meads have a thicker, more syrupy consistency, resembling dessert wines.

At Batch Mead, we craft a selection of both dry and sweet meads, ensuring there’s a flavor for every palate. Why not try one of our award-winning bottles to find your favorite?

Taste Tip

The mouthfeel of sweeter meads is thicker, often referred to as having "legs." This comes from unfermented honey in the final product.

Honey wine is widely recognized as a type of wine, meaning it’s available in bottles and even cans! You can:

1. Order from award-winning meaderies online, including Batch Mead, which specializes in small-batch, craft-produced honey wine.
2. Check local liquor stores for mead—it’s growing in popularity.

Pro Tip: Skip the searching and order directly from Batch Mead today to experience our award-winning flavors, crafted in Temecula, California, with love, care, and locally sourced ingredients.

At Batch Mead, honey wine is more than just a drink—it’s an experience. Unlike mass-produced beverages, our meads are handcrafted using only the finest local honey and real fruits. Since 2019, we’ve dedicated ourselves to creating a product that reflects our passion for quality and craftsmanship.

And it shows! Our meads have won Best in Show at the San Diego International Beer Festival multiple years in a row, alongside numerous other accolades.

Try it for yourself—order your bottle today and taste the award-winning difference Batch Mead has to offer! Don’t forget free shipping on orders over $149.

"The package came fast and intact. The bottles were safely packaged with plenty of cushions keeping the bottles from moving around very well done. The Mead itself is just plain amazing the flavors and quality is sky high! Definitely recommend!!" – A satisfied Batch Mead customer.