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If you only try one honey wine, this is the sensible place to start. The Demi Sec is Bee d'Vine's flagship and its most decorated bottle, and it shows what the category can be when it is treated like wine rather than a novelty: two ingredients, a long rest in barrel and bottle, and sweetness that reads as ripe fruit instead of syrup.
It is made in Sonoma from raw clover honey and spring water and bottled at 12.5% ABV, the same strength as a typical white wine. The style sits in the middle of the sweetness range, which makes it the safe choice if you are not sure whether you prefer sweet or dry.
At a glance
- Style
- Semi-sweet, still
- Alcohol
- 12.5% ABV
- Ingredients
- Raw clover honey and spring water
- Calories
- about 140 per 5 oz glass
- Carbs
- about 9.4 g per 5 oz glass
- Bottle
- 750 ml
- Price
- $49 (October 2026)
- Best for
- First-time honey wine drinkers and anyone who leans toward off-dry whites
What it tastes like
We have condensed the producer's tasting notes below. If you like off-dry Riesling, Vouvray or Moscato, this is the bottle in the range most likely to feel familiar.
Aroma
Spiced apple and pear, melon and a lift of mint
Palate
Silky and rounded, with spiced nuts, coconut water and papaya
Finish
Long, moving from pear and starfruit to creamed honey
How it is made
- Fermented from raw clover honey and spring water only, with no fruit, spices or added sugar.
- The producer states a minimum of six months in barrel and three years in bottle before release.
- Described by the producer as tannin-free: honey brings no grape skins or seeds.
Food pairing and serving
- Spicy dishes such as Thai curry, doro wat or Nashville hot chicken
- Barbecue and smoked meats
- Tangy blue cheese
- Fruit tarts, or on its own in place of dessert
Chill it like a white wine, around 45 to 50°F, and use a regular white wine glass. Once opened, keep it corked in the refrigerator; the producer says it holds for about a week. More in how to serve and store honey wine and the pairing guide.
Awards and reviews
Competition results as listed by the producer. They were earned by earlier releases of this wine, so treat them as a track record rather than a score for the bottle you will receive.
| Year | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | World Wine Championships, Mead Challenge (Beverage Testing Institute) | Gold medal, 91 points |
| 2016 | Finger Lakes International Wine Competition | Silver medal |
| 2015 | Eco Friendly Wine Challenge (Beverage Testing Institute) | Gold medal, 93 points |
| 2015 | World Wine Championships, Mead Challenge (Beverage Testing Institute) | Gold medal, 92 points |
| 2015 | International Women's Wine Competition | Silver medal |
| 2014 | International Women's Wine Competition | Gold medal and Best in Class |
| 2014 | Sommelier Challenge International Wine Competition | Silver medal |
Reasons to buy, and reasons not to
For
- Most awarded bottle in the range
- Semi-sweet rather than dessert-sweet
- Semi-sweet and tannin-free, the profile usually recommended for spicy food
- Just honey and water
Against
- At $49 it costs more than most supermarket meads
- Too sweet if you only drink bone-dry wine (see the Brut)
Best for: First-time honey wine drinkers and anyone who leans toward off-dry whites.
New to this producer? Our Bee d'Vine guide covers who makes it and how the range fits together, where to buy honey wine explains ordering and shipping, and best honey wine ranks every bottle by style.
Grape wines in a similar style
Honey wine is hard to find in shops. If you want something close to this bottle from a wine retailer, these off-dry white wines from our partner shops share its sweetness level or style. They are grape wines, not mead, and the notes are the retailer's.
SJ Montigny Riesling Kauzenberg Auslese 2020
- Riesling Auslese
- Sweet
- Germany
Honey and apricot in a German Auslese, a sweet Riesling with a score on the merchant page.
Buy Wines Online says: A late-harvest Nahe Riesling with apricot, honey, candied citrus peel and a delicate floral lift, rich yet balanced.
WE 90 (as listed by Buy Wines Online)
Chateau Ste. Michelle Harvest Select Sweet Riesling 2024
- Sweet Riesling
- Sweet
- Washington
A Washington sweet Riesling with honey in the tasting notes.
Buy Wines Online says: Aromatic sweet Riesling with lush peach, apricot and honey notes, its sweetness balanced by crisp acidity.
St. Christopher Piesporter Goldtropfchen Riesling Auslese 2025
- Riesling Auslese
- Sweet
- Germany
An affordable Auslese with honey and apricot notes.
Wine On Sale says: Golden, richly textured Mosel Auslese with dried apricot, honey and candied citrus, a silky mouthfeel and bright acidity.
Questions about Demi Sec
Is Bee d'Vine Demi Sec very sweet?
No. Demi sec means "half dry". It is noticeably sweeter than the Brut but far lighter than dessert wines or traditional sack meads. The producer lists about 9.4 g of carbohydrate per 5 oz glass.
What does it pair with?
A little sweetness calms chili heat and flatters smoke and salt, so spicy food, barbecue and blue cheese are the classic matches.
How long does it keep once opened?
The producer says about a week in the refrigerator with the cork back in.
