MORE MEAD MEDALS

Maxwell’s hat-trick of gold a real buzz…

Maxwell Honey Mead wins Gold Medal for Best Varietal Mead at 2006 International Mead Festival in Boulder, Colorado, USA.

McLaren Vale winery and meadery, Maxwell Wines, has been awarded its third consecutive Gold Medal in three showings at the International Mead Festival, the world’s largest mead competition.   Mead is a wine made from honey, not grapes, and is one of the oldest fermented drinks known to mankind.

Following success in both 2003 and 2004 with Maxwell Liqueur Mead in the Dessert category, the Maxwell Honey Mead took the honours in the Varietal section of the ‘05/06 competition, a category showcasing pure honey wines that have no additional spices added.   As compared to many wine shows, only one medal of each gold, silver and bronze is awarded per category.   This elevates Maxwell Honey Mead to being adjudged the best varietal mead in the world for 2006.

When hearing of his hat-trick of success, Maxwell Wines Director and Principal Winemaker Mark Maxwell noted that as the largest mead producer in the southern hemisphere, it was gratifying to also be acknowledged as one of the best in the world.   “My father, the late Ken Maxwell, began researching and experimenting with mead over 50 years ago, and I’m sure he would be astounded yet quietly proud of the acclaim and continuing popularity of our meads.   In fact at the beginning he probably never imagined his meads would be exported, let alone internationally awarded.   With two of our three mead styles of Honey, Spiced, and Liqueur being judged best in the world in the last three years, it’s a real buzz to say the least!”