J. Bird Winery is located in rural Stanchfield. The meadery is open in the fall on Saturdays. Look for the signs that read "mead."
From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., James E. Bird is a drywall contractor. The rest of the time, he's a mead maker with his father, James. Sr. and daughter, Jessie.
Their small farm winery in Stanchfield is the second oldest in the state. Those who have drank mead at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival have tasted their wares, which are sold each year at The Mead Booth. J. Bird Winery has been providing mead for the festival for 37 years.
"It doesn't really taste like wine," observed James, Jr. "It tastes more like a fruit drink. It goes down smooth."
LEGEND OF MEAD
"Mead is the oldest wine there is," noted James, Jr.
According to legend, the wine gained its name in the 17th century. A king had a daughter and no sons. When he died, she became the ruler. She was beloved by her people, and was good to them. When they went out and stole from other tribes, she divided the spoils with her people. One of the items they took was sweet honey, which they made wine out of.
The people began toasting her when they drank. "To Queen Mead!"
"And the wine took on the name, mead," said James, Jr.
ORIGINS OF J. BIRD WINERY
J. Bird Winery, driven by the elder James Bird's creativity, is always in search of a new flavor.
When he visited Egypt, he was inspired by the hybiscus-lemon tea so many were drinking. Thinking it would complement mead well, he began experimenting with batches.
Today, the Egyptian Mead is their most popular flavor.
The Bloody (a combination of mead and elderberries) is also well-liked, but the winery is limited in its production of that flavor as elderberries are difficult to find.
J. Bird Winery uses Minnesota grown produce in its wines, with the exception of items not grown in the stat, such as hybiscus which come from Oregon. The strawberries and raspberries come from the U Pick farm nearby.
Most of its honey comes from the Honey Bee Orchard in Buffalo. James, Jr. noted that honey is becoming harder to find. "We're losing two-thirds of our bees each year," he said. "The honey is there, but the bees disappear from the hive.
"It could become a big problem."
THE MEADMAKER
James R. Bird began by making apple champagne in his Crystal, Minn. basement. The mixture turned out so well it earned him two national first-place awards.
He then turned his hand to honey wine.
The mead is made the old German way. "We try not to filter the heck out of it," said James, Jr. "We add as few chemicals as we have to [in order] to preserve the flavor."
While many use salt for preservation, J. Bird Winery uses potassium.
Today, the wine ferments in 1,000 gallon tanks in a building in rural Stanchfield. After fermentation, the mead is re-flavored, explained James Bird, Jr.
To make four barrels of mead it takes 700 pounds of honey.
While some is bottled (on a bottling machine James, Sr. fashioned that does three at a time), most is kept in barrels for transport and sale at festivals.
In all, the meadery produces about 2,000 gallons a year.
J. Bird Winery sells most of its mead at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. But the family is also typically at the Wisconsin Renaissance Festival and the Old World Renn Fair in Twig, Minn. July is typically free, and James, Jr. would like to begin selling at local county fairs. However, he has been stymied in his efforts because the 3.2 license county fairs receive from the state specify that it is for malt beverages. Thus, even if he were to lower the alcohol content in the wine from 6.9% to 3.2%, he wouldn't be able to sell it at a county fair under the current law. He also hopes to begin offering the mead at local liquor stores and bars.
James, Sr. and James, Jr. spend most of their weekends in August and September at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. The booth is located near the jousting area. On the days when they sell over 50 gallons of mead in one day, James, Jr. will head back north to replenish supplies.
The mead is so popular the line forms down the dirt path and crosses behind the alley.
"Our line will be 60 feet long most of the day," noted James, Jr.
Following the festival, they open the meadery to visitors on Saturdays from October to December. Mead is for sale – at 20% for those who bring their own jugs. Often, friends from the Renaissance Festival come up to sell their wares and provide musical entertainment. Samples are free.
Look for the signs that say "mead".
To learn more, browse www.the-mead-booth.com or call 763-689-3920.
-30-
FLAVORS OF WINE
Classic Mead
Bloody Mead (with elderberry)
Egyptian Mead (with hybiscus and lemon)*
Honey Crisp Apple Wine
Applemint Wine
Rhubarb Mead **
Cherry Mead
Raspberry Mead
Strawberry Mead
Spiced Apple
Rasp'n Spice
* Most popular flavor
** Newest flavor
VISIT THE MEADERY
• OPEN Saturdays October, November and December, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• DISCOUNT: Get 20% off if you bring your own jug
• DIRECTIONS: Highway 65 north to Grandy (two miles north of Cambridge). Turn left at County Road 6. Proceed west to Polk Street (same road as the Grandy 9 Golf Course is located on). Turn left. Meadery is first drive on the left. Watch for signs in the fall.
• ENTERTAINMENT: 3 Celts and Company sets up a tent on the weekends and sells Celtic items. There is also often music.
JAMES, JR. RECOMMENDATION
• Blend one-half strawberry and one-half Classic Mead.
From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., James E. Bird is a drywall contractor. The rest of the time, he's a mead maker with his father, James. Sr. and daughter, Jessie.
Their small farm winery in Stanchfield is the second oldest in the state. Those who have drank mead at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival have tasted their wares, which are sold each year at The Mead Booth. J. Bird Winery has been providing mead for the festival for 37 years.
"It doesn't really taste like wine," observed James, Jr. "It tastes more like a fruit drink. It goes down smooth."
LEGEND OF MEAD
"Mead is the oldest wine there is," noted James, Jr.
According to legend, the wine gained its name in the 17th century. A king had a daughter and no sons. When he died, she became the ruler. She was beloved by her people, and was good to them. When they went out and stole from other tribes, she divided the spoils with her people. One of the items they took was sweet honey, which they made wine out of.
The people began toasting her when they drank. "To Queen Mead!"
"And the wine took on the name, mead," said James, Jr.
ORIGINS OF J. BIRD WINERY
J. Bird Winery, driven by the elder James Bird's creativity, is always in search of a new flavor.
When he visited Egypt, he was inspired by the hybiscus-lemon tea so many were drinking. Thinking it would complement mead well, he began experimenting with batches.
Today, the Egyptian Mead is their most popular flavor.
The Bloody (a combination of mead and elderberries) is also well-liked, but the winery is limited in its production of that flavor as elderberries are difficult to find.
J. Bird Winery uses Minnesota grown produce in its wines, with the exception of items not grown in the stat, such as hybiscus which come from Oregon. The strawberries and raspberries come from the U Pick farm nearby.
Most of its honey comes from the Honey Bee Orchard in Buffalo. James, Jr. noted that honey is becoming harder to find. "We're losing two-thirds of our bees each year," he said. "The honey is there, but the bees disappear from the hive.
"It could become a big problem."
THE MEADMAKER
James R. Bird began by making apple champagne in his Crystal, Minn. basement. The mixture turned out so well it earned him two national first-place awards.
He then turned his hand to honey wine.
The mead is made the old German way. "We try not to filter the heck out of it," said James, Jr. "We add as few chemicals as we have to [in order] to preserve the flavor."
While many use salt for preservation, J. Bird Winery uses potassium.
Today, the wine ferments in 1,000 gallon tanks in a building in rural Stanchfield. After fermentation, the mead is re-flavored, explained James Bird, Jr.
To make four barrels of mead it takes 700 pounds of honey.
While some is bottled (on a bottling machine James, Sr. fashioned that does three at a time), most is kept in barrels for transport and sale at festivals.
In all, the meadery produces about 2,000 gallons a year.
J. Bird Winery sells most of its mead at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. But the family is also typically at the Wisconsin Renaissance Festival and the Old World Renn Fair in Twig, Minn. July is typically free, and James, Jr. would like to begin selling at local county fairs. However, he has been stymied in his efforts because the 3.2 license county fairs receive from the state specify that it is for malt beverages. Thus, even if he were to lower the alcohol content in the wine from 6.9% to 3.2%, he wouldn't be able to sell it at a county fair under the current law. He also hopes to begin offering the mead at local liquor stores and bars.
James, Sr. and James, Jr. spend most of their weekends in August and September at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. The booth is located near the jousting area. On the days when they sell over 50 gallons of mead in one day, James, Jr. will head back north to replenish supplies.
The mead is so popular the line forms down the dirt path and crosses behind the alley.
"Our line will be 60 feet long most of the day," noted James, Jr.
Following the festival, they open the meadery to visitors on Saturdays from October to December. Mead is for sale – at 20% for those who bring their own jugs. Often, friends from the Renaissance Festival come up to sell their wares and provide musical entertainment. Samples are free.
Look for the signs that say "mead".
To learn more, browse www.the-mead-booth.com or call 763-689-3920.
-30-
FLAVORS OF WINE
Classic Mead
Bloody Mead (with elderberry)
Egyptian Mead (with hybiscus and lemon)*
Honey Crisp Apple Wine
Applemint Wine
Rhubarb Mead **
Cherry Mead
Raspberry Mead
Strawberry Mead
Spiced Apple
Rasp'n Spice
* Most popular flavor
** Newest flavor
VISIT THE MEADERY
• OPEN Saturdays October, November and December, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• DISCOUNT: Get 20% off if you bring your own jug
• DIRECTIONS: Highway 65 north to Grandy (two miles north of Cambridge). Turn left at County Road 6. Proceed west to Polk Street (same road as the Grandy 9 Golf Course is located on). Turn left. Meadery is first drive on the left. Watch for signs in the fall.
• ENTERTAINMENT: 3 Celts and Company sets up a tent on the weekends and sells Celtic items. There is also often music.
JAMES, JR. RECOMMENDATION
• Blend one-half strawberry and one-half Classic Mead.
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