Who’s threatening us now? Malicious mead!
First it was a new winery in Manhattan. Now, word buzzes in about the new Manhattan Meadery, which promises to make “a distinctive honey wine” in NYC (though which borough will receive this honor is unclear since “Brooklyn buzz” is on the ad).
While we were just sitting here sipping our sauvignon, they have brought the fight to us wine geeks, touting their product as “wine,” and packaging it in 750 ml bottles with 13% alcohol. The audacity! And they continue that their measly mead is “a light and crisp dry white that is thoroughly wine-like, but unlike any wine you’ve had before.”
Oh yeah, which vintage is your honey from, Mister Meadery? Can you imagine, the meadery is exploiting the honey bees during their time of Colony Collapse Disorder! Drink real wine instead! There’s a global glut! Manhattan Meadery, you’re on notice!
On July 9th, 2008 at 10:39 am ,Mark Ashley wrote:
Meh. There’s room at the table for beverages other than fermented grape juice. What’s the real beef with calling something “wine,” if it’s got the modifier “honey” in front of it?
Will you be issuing a fatwa against the fruit wine industry in Michigan?
I’ve had mead, and it’s not my thing, but I’m not about to condemn the Meadery for trying something new.
On July 9th, 2008 at 3:20 pm ,Steve wrote:
Mark,
Get thee to a Meadery!
On July 10th, 2008 at 11:15 am ,Morton Leslie wrote:
To make that one bottle of mead, honest, hard working bees flew 25,000 miles and visited 800,000 flowers. And while they did this, in their spare time, they pollinated our precious crop of grapes. So, give the little guys a break.
On November 30th, 2008 at 10:04 pm ,mrT wrote:
Any booze is good booze in my book.
There is a batch of zinfandel aging in my cellar along a nice batch of dry mead. I never noticed them to fight and they will both gladly visit my gut in the future.
Expand your pallete and taste smothing different every day.
On December 7th, 2008 at 9:53 am ,Phil Clarke wrote:
When I first read your comments regarding Manhattan Meadery, I assumed that you were being humorous in what you wrote. After reading your other postings, I realize that I was wrong. You weren’t being humorous; you were being ignorant. Mead is not wine and, generally, it does not taste like wine. It is served like a wine and can often be served as a substitute for it.
You should try some meads before you condemn them. You might be surprised by what you taste.
On December 23rd, 2008 at 11:28 am ,Jessica wrote:
Mead is a truly amazing drink. It is the oldest fermented beverage in the history of the world and its’ awareness may very well save the honey bee. Keep a bee hive in your backyard and reap up to 150 pounds of honey in one year! It is a common misconception to call mead wine, but mead is truly an amazing thing and anyone who tries it or makes it at home will never make the mistake to call mead wine again.
On March 5th, 2009 at 2:40 pm ,Randy wrote:
Mead isn’t wine… but then again, neither is sake. Both are just as good as grape wine.
On September 5th, 2011 at 9:16 am ,kirk jones wrote:
Dr.Vino,
Lighten up on the mead. We make it at about 11.5 abv and it tastes more like riesling. We are also doing barrel ferments with fruit combinations, including pinot noir, riesling, raspberries, etc.
We make straight up grape wine too.
I would comment that many meads are too sweet and heavy. Not ours!
Kirk from St. Ambrose