Lyme Bay Cherry Wine 75cl

Product Information

From its well-documented appearances on the all-conquering Game of Thrones TV series to a growing general interest in traditional food and drink, there are many reasons why mead – according to some, the world’s oldest alcoholic beverage – has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years.

When raw honey gets moisture into it, there is a chance that natural yeast will start a fermentation process that converts the sugar in honey into alcohol. Nowadays, the yeast used in mead making is often identical to that used in winemaking. To finish, add the mead, bourbon, a splash of water and one ice cube. Take your spoon again and swirl the mixture around for 30 seconds or so before it’s ready. James started his winemaking career at a young age. Cutting his teeth in the wine labs at Broadland Drinks, testing 20 to 30 wines per day, he enrolled on a wine appreciation course led by Frank Leatherdale. James credits Frank’s knowledge, enthusiasm and passion, for setting him on his career journey into wine. The word ‘Mjolnir’ is a Norse name for Thor’s hammer. Our take on the traditional mojito is a simple but delicious combination of flavours.When the pubs closed due to Covid-19 restrictions, we’ve all had to become DIY mixologists, and, as you’ll see, this has given us the chance to expand our horizons and create some genuinely creative tipples. If you are new to the world of cherry wine, we have explored the fruity number in a bit more detail here, so you can experience it in all its glory. Cherry Wine Profile Since Rodgers, a range of artists from Van Morrison and Prince to the Foo Fighters and Sheryl Crow have referred to the drink in their songs, with the sweet wine used to highlight feelings of romance, and we couldn’t think of a better suited drink! Get in Touch

Mead is created by honey and water fermented with yeast, sometimes containing various fruits, spices, grains, or hops. It is believed that mead was essentially first discovered when accidentally some honey got wet. For enjoying our cherry wine on its own, as previously mentioned, we feel it makes a perfect dessert wine, so enjoy a serving of around 120ml at a cool, room temperature. As with our other fruit wines, they can be enjoyed as a refreshing long drink, mixed 50/50 with soda water. The alcoholic content of mead ranges from about 3.5% ABV to more than 18%. Mead may be still, carbonated, naturally sparkling, dry, semi-sweet, or sweet.

The earliest recorded evidence of mead’s existence dates from 7000 BC, where archaeologists discovered pottery vessels in northern China showing chemical signatures consistent with honey, rice, and organic compounds associated with fermentation. Sarah joined Lyme Bay in 2019, just before harvest. Before that (she describes herself as a ”travelling winemaker”), she worked at wineries in California, Australia and Burgundy. She wasn’t planning on staying for longer than one harvest at Lyme Bay Winery but enjoyed it so much she decided to lay her hat down. Fruit wines are quite often viewed as being a less complex drink to make than their grape counterparts, but the process of making them is almost identical. So, for cherry wine, the juice and flavour of the fruit is extracted by pressing, stewing, and fermenting the pulp of the fruit. From there, sugar (or honey in some instances) is added to increase the alcoholic content during fermentation, while also producing a more polished and palatable final product. How Should Cherry Wine be Enjoyed? With our cherry wine, you will be instantly met with the smell of real cherries upon pouring, which may sound obvious, but often cherry wines can have more of an artificial smell. You will also detect a hint of almond on the nose, adding to the wonderful profile of the wine. After sipping the drink, you will notice a very smooth, full-flavoured taste profile which is an excellent accompaniment to many desserts, particularly those that contain chocolate, caramel, or citrus. How is Cherry Wine Made? During the 2020 harvest, Sarah worked the day shift and was astounded at the quality of the fruit, crediting it with a ripeness she has never seen in English grapes before and was really proud of the wines we created from this harvest – and the harvests following this.

Experimenting with fruits and producing wine is something which has continued through the years, with cherry wine being one such example. Cherry wine was reportedly first produced as a form of homebrew following World War I where people became more experimental and resourceful with their winemaking. Thankfully, processes have advanced quite considerably since then, resulting in a more polished final product with a much more modest alcohol content! Unlike wine made from grapes, fruit wines aren’t designed to be “aged”, so it is best to drink them within a year of when they were bottled. However, this is not a hard and fast rule, it is just recommended so you can get the best out of your product. We do also recommend that you should drink your cherry wine within a week of opening the bottle. Cherry Wine in MusicIn 2006, drawn by Lyme Bay Winery’s ambition to plant a vineyard and make still English wines, he took the job and relocated to Devon. While others had already shown that sparkling English wines of real quality could be made, he felt that still wines had significantly more potential. Begin by preparing the honey syrup. Combine a quarter of a cup each of honey and water in a saucepan and heat gently for one minute. Then, strain it through a sieve and pop it in the fridge while preparing your other ingredients.