immediately see that it’s more than a simple meadery and tasting room. Charles and Laura Lipnicki strive to think “outside the grape” with their large acreage. With an emphasis on sustainability, the Lipnickis operate an organic farm, where they manage a small apiary. The bees pollinate the fruit trees and produce the honey, both of which are used to create their meads. But that’s just the beginning; “The sheep mow the grass and leave their fertilizer behind to nourish the plants: they give us meat, wool, and tallow for soapmaking. We use the lavender flowers to make lavender mead and some crafts. We also use ducks to help us to control pests on the orchards,” explains Laura. The pair is involved every step of the way with their mead- a true Island product from start to finish. And while they can’t technically certify their honey wine as organic due to the bees’ freely- pollinating nature, the farm itself is certified, and their mead is the closest you will find anywhere to a truly organic honey wine. With mesmerizing views of the rolling hills, one could easily feel the stresses of busy modern living melting into the pastoral landscape . The farm store and tasting room offers complimentary samples of their award-winning meads. Authentic handcrafted products such as soaps, wool crafts, pottery, and books are also available for purchase at the store, as well as in-house food items such as lavender cookies, haskap jam and non-pasteurized ‘raw’ honey. Island Honey Wine Company offers a short walking tour of the farm where you will learn about sustainable farming and nurturing bee populations, and see firsthand every aspect that goes into the very mead on sample. It’s a refreshing, breathtaking experience, and Charles and Laura are truly inspiring people. Their passion flows into everything they do- and it shows. Island Honey Wine Company is open every day from 11am to 5pm until the end of October.
Delicate. Refreshing. Balanced. Playful. These are words not often associated with mead- an alcoholic beverage similar to wine, fermented using honey instead of grapes. But in the case of Island Honey Wine Company, this description suits their mead perfectly. With flavours such as Haskap, Lavender, Apple Cider, and Wildflower, as well as their renowned Nectar Sweet dessert honey wine, Charles and Laura Lipnicki have a natural gift for the fermentation process, and integrate sustainable organic farming to their mead to ensure there is care and control over every aspect of their final product. This is undoubtedly why with less than one year under their belts, the Island Honey Wine Company has already won several international awards for their selection of highly exceptional meads.
An Ancient Process
Mead is the oldest fermented beverage known to man, and it is currently enjoying a resurgence of popularity. Every batch is unique, with flavour variations dependent on the bees pollination choices: which flowers they choose, and in what combination. It’s an enchanting process- one that must be respected and nurtured by the mead maker. To create flavours such as lavender and haskap, the maker must respect and understand the complexity of not only the honey, but also the herb or fruit- as each one can be overpowering if not perfectly balanced. When mastered, the result is a wonderful harmony of flavours, and a true representation of that particular season. “Honey is a snapshot of time and place, as it accurately reflects what is flowering in a specific area. This allows the mead maker to present a true ‘terroir’ of a specific region,” explains Charles.
▲ Charles and Laura Lipnicki
Island Honey Wine Company 820 Millboro Rd., Wheatley River www.islandhoneywine.ca
From Blossom to Honeycomb to Glass - A Truly Local Product
Upon arriving at Island Honey Wine Company in Wheatley River, you’ll
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SUMMER 2018 www.pei-living.ca
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