Honey River Mead

Honey River Meads and Melomels

Mead is an ancient wine that predates written language. It is a drink made of honey and water. Melomel is an Old World name for a wine made with fruit and honey.

 Honey River Meads and Melomels are small-batch varietal farmhouse wines, produced in the mountains of West Virginia at Healthberry Farm. As beekeepers, we are generous with our honey, creating a deliciously sweet wine without any refined sugars. We age our wines for two or more years and bottle without added sulfites or chemicals, creating a living wine that has many health benefits. Many of our melomels are collaborations with regional farmers, vineyards and orchards, and those are proudly listed below.

The following are descriptions of our wines, not a list of what is currently in stock. Availability fluctuates based on the honeys and fruits that have been successful on the years that we make the wine, which, like all farming, depends heavily on the weather and the harvest.

For ordering information, visit our contact page. Most varieties are around 14% alcohol – enjoy in moderation, on a full stomach, and chilled!

Mead

Meads are light-colored “white” wine, excellent chilled or served on ice. While the recipe is the same, the flavor profile will vary depending on which variety of honey is used. Many of our meads are naturally effervescent. Varieties typically available: Basswood, Black Locust, Goldenrod, Tulip Poplar (regular and bourbon barrel-aged, a collaboration with Still Hollow Distillery in Job, WV).

Melomel

Acerglyn (Maple Mead)
Wildflower honey with maple water from Canaan Valley Maple in Davis, WV.

Blueberry Melomel
Tangy Basswood honey with organic blueberries from Blueberry Ridge near Fairmont, WV. A rose-colored wine that presents the spicy basswood flavor in a subtle fruity profile.

Cyser (apple cider) (also available as bourbon barrel-aged Cyser)
Dark, rich wildflower honey with cider pressed from estate-grown apples.

Elderberry Melomel
Dark and complex Tulip Poplar honey with wild harvested elderberries.

Peach Melomel
Tangy Goldenrod honey and estate-grown peaches. A golden wine with a pronounced peach kiss and unique floral zest from the Goldenrod honey.

Perry (pear melomel) (also available as bourbon barrel-aged Perry)
Light spring wildflower honey and a blend of estate-grown pears. We sometimes have the bourbon-barrel aged Perry, a collaboration with Still Hollow Distillery in Job, WV.

Pyment (grape melomel)
Tulip Poplar honey and Chambourcin grapes from Shapar Pond Vineyard, in Ellicott City, MD.  Pyment is a sweet, rich, dark red-colored wine most similar to a port, and pairs perfectly with an equally fine meal. Produced in honor of Ben’s mentor, the late Frank Androzci of Little Hungary Farm Winery in Buckhannon, WV.

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We are a three-time national award-winning meadery! The Mead Crafter’s Competition has awarded us a Silver Medal for our Perry in 2022, a Gold Medal for Pyment in 2020 and a Silver Medal for Basswood in 2019. Many thanks to the National Honey Board for facilitating this contest!