a Mountain Dragon Mazery glass to
commemorate the visit. Maltby and
Smith describe the flavors of the
meads as unusual, authentic and
delicious. Their offerings include Café
Montevedre Methyglyn, a dry style
drinker’s mead with a coffee taste,
and Ruthie’s Rhodomel Methyglyn,
which is fermented with rose petals,
as well as heated meads during the
winter. All of the honey used in their
products is produced in the Mountain
State, either at the mazery’s apiary or
from other West Virginia beekeepers.
Monticola Meadery
www.facebook.com/
monticolameadery
Photo by
Monticola
Meadery.
In the old railroad town of Ronceverte,
situated along the Greenbrier River,
there is a small refurbished building
that is home to the Monticola Meadery.
Owner Jefferson Casto wanted to keep
tradition central throughout the brand,
so he named the business Monticola,
which is Latin for mountaineer. Using
its own honey, Monticola Meadery
ferments and produces two dry meads
in stainless-steel tanks. The dry
traditional mead is called 600 and is
made from 100 percent honey and
best served chilled. The meadery’s
melomel, called 101, is fermented
from 90 percent honey and 10 percent
oranges. Mead lovers can visit the
Monticola Meadery for a tasting and
tour but should call ahead to schedule
an appointment. Their products can
also be purchased at Tamarack, Studio
B in Fayetteville and several shops in
downtown Lewisburg.
Mountain Dragon Mazery
www.mountaindragonmazery.com
If off-the-beaten-path is your style
when it comes to wine and mead, try
Mountain Dragon Mazery in Fairmont.
Mountain Dragon Mazery brews its
eight types of mead in traditional
glassware, known as carboys, to
preserve the flavor of the honey. Owners
Tom Maltby and Ruthann Smith
welcome guests for tastings and
tours on Thursday-Friday, 3-8 p.m.,
or by appointment. Guests can taste
three of the meads for free or all
eight meads for $8, which includes
Potomac Highland Winery
www.phwinery.com
Stone Road Vineyard
www.thinkstone.com/srv
Photo by Potomac
Highland Winery.
Positioned on a low ridge with perfect
sun exposure, Potomac Highland
Winery is located in West Virginia’s
Eastern Panhandle. In the region’s
gently sloping terrain, the Whitehill
family grows two types of grapes—
French American hybrids as well
as traditional grapes from Europe
known as vinifera grapes. Potomac
Highland Winery specializes in fine
table wines, ranging from drier wines
like chardonnay to semi-sweet and
fruit wines. Located near several
orchards, they source apple juice to
produce delicious apple wine and
manufacture a unique sweet spiced
wine. While they do not offer events,
the Whitehill family encourages
those interested in learning more
about wine and its different flavors to
schedule an appointment to visit the
vineyard and enjoy a wine tasting.
Photo by Stone Road Vineyard.
David and Lynne Stone, owners of
Stone Road Vineyard, say their craft
is all about quality. The winemakers
take their time and use the best tools
and resources and apply it all to their
winemaking strategy. The family-owned
and operated winery selects its hand-
crafted wines for consumption and
sale based on taste. This farm winery
offers more than 15 different wines,
including a unique maple wine made
from locally sourced maple syrup. The
Stone family is proud of its Appalachian
heritage, which is evident throughout
the winery. Just five miles off the Rock-
port exit of I-77, Stone Road Vineyard
sits along a hillside overlooking the
state’s beautiful mountains and has
been classified as a green energy
business. Visitors should call to
schedule an appointment for tours
and tastings.
www.wve xe c uti v e.com
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