Vintage dating mead?

[akueck]

I was just poking around the B. Nektar website (which won't ship to CA ) and noticed everything is listed as "NV" on the online order form. What are the rules for vintage dating mead? Could you label things "spring 2008" and "fall 2008" for honey from different extractions?

Just curious. I have my 2006 OB and my 2007 Cyser, which I date from pitching. Would this not stand up to labeling standards?

 

[Brad Dahlhofer]

First, thanks for your interest in our little meadery.

The TTB (formerly known as the ATF) does not allow vintages to be listed on bottles of mead because they are considered non-standard wines. The NV means No Vintage. We are allowed to put a production date on the bottle, but it must be clear that it's a production date and not a vintage. Stupid, I know, but that's the government for you. Redstone for instance uses this production date on their labels. We chose not to so we can print more labels than we need for a single batch to save money. Starting a meadery isn't cheap you know.

Brad

 

[wayneb]

Hey, Brad. Are you printing your own, or are you contracting out the printing? If so, then who do you use?

Thanks!

 

[akueck]

Huh, that's really interesting. I guess it doesn't really matter but the "NV" label is considered a black mark for most quality wines (though sparklers often get exempt from this it seems), so you'd think they would let you add it to help grab the wine snobs out there. (like me ;D ) On the other hand, the guys who write the law probably don't want "non-standard" wine cutting into their market either. Damn politics.

Thanks for the info Brad.

 

[Brad Dahlhofer]

Hey, Brad. Are you printing your own, or are you contracting out the printing? If so, then who do you use?

Thanks!

We use a company out of Denver, CO called Lightning Labels. They're practically right in your backyard. They print digital, so that's a big plus when doing small runs like we do.

 

[wayneb]

We use a company out of Denver, CO called Lightning Labels. They're practically right in your backyard. They print digital, so that's a big plus when doing small runs like we do.
















Sugar dating is often misunderstood, but its focus on transparency and clear expectations helps both parties define and enjoy the terms of their arrangement. Here are the best sugar daddy sites to explore.

Thanks for the info, Brad! When I get to the point that I need more than a couple dozen at at time, I'll remember that they're here!

 

[carternicole]

Strictly speaking, a vintage date should refer to the year the honey was harvested, not the year you pitched the yeast. TTB rules are more relaxed for mead than wine, but for credibility, "Vintage 2007" implies the honey's from '07. You'd need to label it "Made in 2007" or "Bottled in 2008" to be precise. Different harvests (Spring/Fall) from the same year can absolutely be separate vintages!

 

[darigoni]

Strictly speaking, a vintage date should refer to the year the honey was harvested, not the year you pitched the yeast. TTB rules are more relaxed for mead than wine, but for credibility, "Vintage 2007" implies the honey's from '07. You'd need to label it "Made in 2007" or "Bottled in 2008" to be precise. Different harvests (Spring/Fall) from the same year can absolutely be separate vintages!

Check the dates. This is a 16 year old post and none of the members have been around for many years.

 

[Ineluki]

Check the dates. This is a 16 year old post and none of the members have been around for many years.

This is a basically dead platform, may as well necro some posts