Introducing Sparkling Mead: A New Chapter at Cider Hill Cellars
Made with honey from our own beehives, our newest creation brings something exciting to the farm's growing collection of handcrafted beverages.
There's something new bubbling at Cider Hill Cellars, and this time, it all begins with honey!
We're thrilled to introduce our new Sparkling Mead, a semi-sweet, honey-based beverage crafted right here at Cider Hill Farm. Made with honey from our own beehives and produced in our on-site cidery, this latest addition celebrates another side of what we grow, harvest and create on the farm.
What Exactly Is Mead?
Mead is one of the world's oldest fermented beverages, traditionally made by fermenting honey with water. While hard cider begins with apples and wine begins with grapes, mead begins with honey.
And just like cider or wine, mead can take on many different styles, ranging from dry to sweet, still to sparkling.
Our new mead is semi-sweet and sparkling, offering delicate honey sweetness and a refreshing finish. It's approachable, versatile and a wonderful introduction for anyone curious about trying mead for the first time.
From Our Beehives to Your Glass
One of the things that makes this new addition especially meaningful is where its main ingredient comes from.
Beekeeping has been part of Cider Hill Farm for approximately 40 years. Our honeybees play an important role in the farm's ecosystem, visiting blossoms throughout the growing season and helping pollinate many of the crops we grow. Beyond their essential work in the fields and orchards, our bees also produce the honey that we harvest and enjoy.
Now, that honey has found a new home in our cidery. Our Sparkling Mead brings together two long-standing parts of the farm: beehives and beverage making. It's another way we're celebrating the ingredients grown and produced right here at Cider Hill.
Crafted at Cider Hill Cellars
While Cider Hill Cellars is best known for its award-winning hard ciders made with heritage American apples and farm-grown fruit, we're always exploring new ways to showcase the harvest. Sparkling Mead is an exciting extension of that creativity.
Crafted in our on-site cidery alongside our hard cider blends, our mead offers a different tasting experience. Rather than the familiar apple-forward notes of cider, honey takes center stage. The result is am effervescent, floral, semi-sweet beverage that's equally enjoyable on its own or paired with food.
What Pairs Well with Sparkling Mead?
Honey's natural sweetness makes mead a surprisingly versatile companion at the table. Our semi-sweet Sparkling Mead is particularly enjoyable alongside foods that offer a contrast of salty, savory, smoky or creamy flavors.
A few pairings to try:
Prosciutto and smoked almonds: The honey sweetness balances the salty cured meat and smoky, nutty flavors.
Artisan cheeses: Creamy cheeses provide a rich contrast to the mead's delicate sweetness and bubbles.
Roasted vegetables: Caramelized vegetables and warm seasonal flavors complement the honey notes.
Charcuterie boards: A combination of savory meats, cheeses, nuts and fruit makes a natural partner for a glass of sparkling mead.
Whether you're hosting friends, planning a holiday gathering or simply looking to try something new, mead brings a unique addition to the table.
Three Ways to Experience Our New Mead
We're excited to offer several ways to discover our newest creation at the farm.
1. Enjoy It on Tap - Our Sparkling Mead made its debut on tap at the Cider Hill Cellars outdoor hard cider bar on Saturday, October 17. Stop by during bar hours and enjoy a glass while taking in the farm. $7
2. Bring Home a Bottle - Sparkling Mead is coming soon in bottles inside our Farm Store. It's a lovely addition to a gathering, seasonal meal or celebration. $23
3. Experience It at Farm to Table events - We've added Sparkling Mead to our Cider & Bites tasting experience on October 17th, where guests can explore how thoughtfully paired foods bring out different flavors in our handcrafted beverages.
A Toast to Our Bees, Our Farmers and What's Next
At Cider Hill Farm, we're always looking for meaningful ways to connect what happens in our fields, orchards and beehives with what our guests experience. Our new Sparkling Mead is a celebration of that connection. From the bees gathering nectar to the honey harvested on the farm and the work happening inside our cidery, every bottle represents another chapter in our agricultural story. We're excited to share it with you!
Cheers to our hardworking honeybees and to something new at Cider Hill Cellars.
Available to guests ages 21 and older.
