Adytum Cellars of Woodinville recently brought home the silver medal from the 2007 International Mead Festival. Over 100 commercial meads from seven countries were served and evaluated at the festival’s tasting sessions.

Vince Carlson, Adytum Cellar’s owner and mead maker, was recognized with the silver medal for Traditional Mead, Harvest Moon. Adytum produces small artisan batches of the age old honey-based beverage called mead. Harvest Moon is made with a honey blend of blackberry and fireweed. A beekeeper since the age of 15, Carlson still tends his own apiary. After learning about bees and honey, he discovered the ancient secret of mead. “It didn’t take long to realize the process was a wonderful way to preserve the freshness of fruit to enjoy year round,” Carlson says.

Visiting farms and orchards throughout the Northwest, Carlson searches for the most flavorful flowers, fruit and berries of the season.

“I never know from year to year what kind of mead I’ll be making,” he says. “One year peaches are best, another year it might be cherries or pears. The fruit trees and bushes decide what will make the best mead of the year.”

Located at 15132 148th Avenue NE, Adytum Cellars is open for tasting Saturday, March 3, and the the first Saturday of every month. Stop in between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. to sample award winning mead. For more information, call (425) 482-9030 or log on to www.adytumcellars.com.