I attended a "mead mingler" tonight, hosted by David Myers of Redstone Meadery and his wife (whose name I now embarassingly forget, given that I talked with her for a good two hours; in my defense I'd drunk a few glasses of mead by and since then). We sampled both his own meads and several others, including a boysenberry melomel that won the gold medal at last year's International Mead Fest, and a few excellent oak-aged meads. I also got to taste several (and I mean several) glasses of two vintages of Redstone Reserve, the meads that have 100 people on the waiting list for the $50 bottles. Didn't get your bottle this year? That's because we finished off two of them.

What's that, I haven't mentioned kilts yet? Okay, two lovely Irish lasses accosted me on the way out the door and insisted that I visit them the next time I'm in Ireland. I got their numbers, and an open invitation to visit, so they can find out what's under the kilt.

Andrew.

Andrew, you remind me that mead is something I've never tried, not even sure if it can be bought in our area, I did see it in Scotland tho'.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Graham

Andrew, you remind me that mead is something I've never tried, not even sure if it can be bought in our area, I did see it in Scotland tho'.

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I would bet there is a producer somewhere in your are, Graham, although there may not be a commercial source. All it takes is a source of honey. But then, I know that all you Australian's drink is big cans of beer.;)

well we have the best honey in the world here, so I guess there must be some good mead about!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Graham

well we have the best honey in the world here, so I guess there must be some good mead about!

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I think this is on a "MEAD" to know basis

Sorry I couldn't resit that one.
I like the stuff too

Graham, you could always take it upon yourself to make some for yourself, and to introduce mead to the wilds of Tasmania.

All it takes is some research,
a little instruction,
some basic equipment,
and the three ingredients: honey, water, and yeast.

Wait six months, and voila!

Then you can start getting crazy and adding fruit, aging with oak, and so on....

Andrew.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Graham

well we have the best honey in the world here, so I guess there must be some good mead about!

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In New Zealand:

Virgin Gold Ltd
PO Box 185
Cromwell Central Otago
New Zealand
Phone +64 3 445-4141
Mobile +64 27 445 4143
http://virgingold.biz/

HAVILLS MAZER MEAD COMPANY
Gabrielle and Leon Havill
Plasketts Road, Fernside, Rangiora RD 1, New Zealand.
Ph/fax NZ+64 3 313 7733
http://www.newzealandnz.co.nz/mead/

Knightsbridge Wine Co Ltd. - Gisborne, New Zealand
Date Opened: 1997
Owners: Brian & Irene Shanks
Address: PO Box 887, Gisborne, New Zealand ; Gisborne, New Zealand


I don't know how much commerce goes back and forth with Australia, but:

Bartholomews Meadery
RMB 1067, South Coast Highway
Denmark Western Australia 6333
Phone/Fax: (08) 9840 9349
Email: info@bartholomewsmeadery.com.au
http://www.bartholomewsmeadery.com.au/

Taverner's
1 Nichols Street,
GLENORCHY, Tasmania
Australia 7010
P.O Box 35, MOONAH, Tasmania
Australia 7009
PH: (03) 6273 2466
Fax: (03) 6273 2467
email: taverners@trump.net.au
International phone: +61 3 6273 2466
International fax: +61 3 6273 2467
http://www.ontas.com.au/taverners/mead.htm

Blackwood Meadery
Horst & Alex Bernhagen
Brockman Highway Karridale 6288
Ph: 9758 2332 Fax: 6210 5960

And you can always make it yourself, it is easy!