Make a sweet new discovery
Discover Virginia Mead
Mead, often referred to as “honey wine,” is one of the world’s oldest fermented beverages, with roots tracing back thousands of years. It is crafted by fermenting honey with water, and often infused with fruits, spices, grains, or hops to create a diverse range of flavors and styles. From sweet to dry, still to sparkling, mead offers a unique tasting experience that reflects both ancient traditions and modern innovations in fermentation. As one of the most sustainable alcoholic beverages, mead inherently supports pollinators-essential to Earth’s ecosystems.
Embarking on the Virginia Mead Trail allows you to explore this unique beverage across the Commonwealth’s scenic landscapes. Whether you’re a seasoned enthusiast or new to the world of mead, the trail invites you to savor the rich flavors and discover the art behind this historic drink.
History
In 2024, several members of the Virginia mead industry united to create the Virginia Mead Trail as a strategic effort to elevate the visibility of mead in the state and boost the newly formed Virginia Mead Guild. With the support of a VTC Marketing Leverage Program grant, the trail is a collaborative marketing initiative aimed at establishing mead alongside Virginia’s celebrated wine and cider industries. The industry recently adopted the “Virginia is for Mead Lovers” branding, and the trail will capitalize on this momentum, offering a unique experience for craft beverage enthusiasts while helping meaderies across the state build a strong collective identity.
The Virginia Mead Trail will offer visitors a dedicated route to explore meaderies across the state. From Richmond to Williamsburg, Charlottesville, and the Shenandoah Valley, the trail will connect these craft beverage destinations, promoting agritourism and local honey sourcing. With a dedicated website and future promotional efforts, the Trail will continue to position mead as a major player in Virginia’s craft beverage scene, creating a new attraction that draws visitors and highlights the industry’s growth and innovation.