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Heidrun Meadery: A Point Reyes Jewel Where You Can’t Stop the Mead-ing

We discovered a marvelous winery in the spectacular Point Reyes Station

Heidrun Meadery: A Point Reyes Jewel Where You Can’t Stop the Mead-ing We discovered a marvelous winery in the spectacular Point Reyes Station Meet Heidrum Meadery Labor Day weekend seemed like a great time to shake things up a bit. Instead of visiting the same old same old, we thought … why not a meadery? Sounds intriguing, so off we went, wending our way through spectacular scenery to Hedren Meadery. What Is Mead? Time to do a little explaining…a Meadery makes mead (right, Sherlock), but what exactly is mead? Official definition? Mead is an alcoholic beverage made from the fermentation of honey, water, and yeast, and it is considered to be the oldest alcoholic drink known to humankind. So there. To give a more complete answer, any vegetable or fruit that has sugar can attract yeast. And what is yeast? Why, they are the best bartenders in the world. They convert sugar to alcohol; ethanol to be exact. So basically, the yeast converts the sugar to alcohol in the honey, and voilà, you have mead or honey wine. The Story Behind Heidrun Meadery In 1995, Gordon Hull took a passing fancy to the whole idea of honey wine. The fancy grew into obsession as he became fascinated by the remarkable differences between flower nectar (honey, as the rest of us know it) and began making sparkling mead. For years, his operation was a one-person band. In 2012, he relocated operations from Arcata to a former dairy farm in Point Reyes Station, just north of the Golden Gate Bridge, and the operations expanded to include commercial beekeeping. Heidrun Meadery was named after Heidrun, the mythical Norse goat in Valhalla who produces an endless supply of mead for the fallen warriors. Tasting Notes and Favorites Heidrun Meadery produces single-varietal and wildflower meads using honeys sourced from around the world. It is amazing how they reflect the unique flavors and aromas of their floral origins, listed here. (I was partial to the Marin County Wildflower). These wines are nothing to scoff at; they earn very respectable scores from distinguished wine critics and publications such as James Suckling. Mead makers must be doing something right; mead is one of the oldest alcoholic beverages around. Lodged in a rambling farm structure, Heidrun Meadery offers a warm, charming introduction to mead. The tasting room is homey and offers local products for sale. Judging from the size and enthusiasm of the crowd in attendance, their fare is much appreciated for its lower-alcohol sparkling wine. All of the mead is sparkling, as mentioned, and produced with the second fermentation taking place in the bottle, similar to Champagne. Popular offerings include: - California Sage Blossom - Marin County Wildflower - Oregon Radish Blossom - Ethiopian Geteme Blossom - Tanzanian Miombo Wildflower - Hawaiian Lehua and Macadamia Nut Blossom Details Location: 11925 State Route 1, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956 Hours: Open daily from 11 AM to 5 PM Phone number: (415) 663-9122 Website: https://www.heidrunmeadery.com Tasting flights: $25 (tasting waived with each 3-bottle purchase) Guided tours: Saturdays at 11:30 AM ($45) Reservations recommended, especially for large groups. Picnic items available; no outside alcohol. Pets welcome. Where to go wine tasting? Check out https://www.winebyappt.com/shop to find out. Want to know more about wine? Check out https://www.winebyappt.com/blog.
Heidrun Meadery Image via Wine By Appointment LLC

Meet Heidrun Meadery

Labor Day weekend seemed like a great time to shake things up a bit. Instead of visiting the same old same old, we thought … why not a meadery?   Sounds intriguing, so off we went, wending our way through spectacular scenery to Heidrun Meadery.

 

What Is Mead?

Time to do a little explaining…a meadery makes mead (right, Sherlock), but what exactly is mead? Official definition? Mead is an alcoholic beverage made from the fermentation of honey, water, and yeast, and it is considered to be the oldest alcoholic drink known to humankind. So there. To give a more complete answer, any vegetable or fruit that has sugar can attract yeast. And what is yeast? Why, they are the best bartenders in the world. They convert sugar to alcohol; ethanol to be exact. So basically, the yeast converts the sugar to alcohol in the honey, and voilà, you have mead or honey wine.


The Story Behind Heidrun Meadery

In 1995, Gordon Hull took a passing fancy to the whole idea of honey wine. The fancy grew into obsession as he became fascinated by the remarkable differences between flower nectar (honey, as the rest of us know it) and began making sparkling mead. For years, his operation was a one-person band. In 2012, he relocated operations from Arcata to a former dairy farm in Point Reyes Station, just north of the Golden Gate Bridge, and the operations expanded to include commercial beekeeping. Heidrun Meadery was named after Heidrun, the mythical Norse goat in Valhalla who produces an endless supply of mead for the fallen warriors. 


Image via Wine By Appoinment
Heidrun Meadery - Image via Wine By Appointment LLC

Tasting Notes and Favorites

Heidrun Meadery produces single-varietal and wildflower meads using honeys sourced from around the world. It is amazing how they reflect the unique flavors and aromas of their floral origins, listed here. (I was partial to the Marin County Wildflower).


These wines are nothing to scoff at; they earn very respectable scores from distinguished wine critics and publications such as James Suckling. Mead makers must be doing something right; mead is one of the oldest alcoholic beverages around.


Lodged in a rambling farm structure, Heidrun Meadery offers a warm, charming introduction to mead.   The tasting room is homey and offers local products for sale. Judging from the size and enthusiasm of the crowd in attendance, their fare is much appreciated for its lower-alcohol sparkling wine. All of the mead is sparkling, as mentioned, and produced with the second fermentation taking place in the bottle, similar to Champagne.

 

Popular offerings include:

California Sage Blossom

Marin County Wildflower

Oregon Radish Blossom

Ethiopian Geteme Blossom

Tanzanian Miombo Wildflower

Hawaiian Lehua

Macadamia Nut Blossom



Details

Location: 11925 State Route 1, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956

Hours: Open daily from 11 AM to 5 PM

Phone number: (415) 663-9122

Tasting flights: $25 (tasting waived with each 3-bottle purchase)

Guided tours: Saturdays at 11:30 ($45)

Reservations recommended, especially for large groups.

Picnic items available; no outside alcohol. Pets welcome.

 

Where to go wine tasting? Check out https://www.winebyappt.com/shop to find out. Want to know more about wine? Check out https://www.winebyappt.com/blog.

 
 

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