Disclosure: we earn a commission if you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Bee d'Vine is currently our only affiliate partner, and our bottle picks come from its range. How this works.
Aging a wine in oak and fermenting it in oak are different things. Barrel fermentation integrates the wood more gently and adds texture, which is why top white Burgundy is made this way. Bee d'Vine applies the same idea to honey, fermenting cool at 55°F with slow oxygen exchange through the staves.
The producer calls it the first dry, tannin-free barrel-fermented honey wine. We cannot verify a world first, so treat that as the producer's claim.
At a glance
- Style
- Dry, still
- Alcohol
- 12.5% ABV
- Ingredients
- Raw American clover honey and spring water
- Calories
- about 120 per 5 oz glass
- Bottle
- 750 ml
- Price
- $52 (September 2026)
- Best for
- Fans of oak-aged whites who want vanilla and spice without the tannin
What it tastes like
We have condensed the producer's tasting notes below. If you like barrel-fermented Chardonnay or white Rioja, this is the bottle in the range most likely to feel familiar.
Aroma
Nutty and earthy, with cedar and honeysuckle
Palate
Very dry: creamy vanilla, stone fruit and cedar
Finish
Long and warm, with light cinnamon and coconut
How it is made
- Raw American clover honey and spring water.
- Fermented in barrel at 55°F with micro-oxygenation.
- The producer states a minimum of six months in barrel and three years in bottle.
Food pairing and serving
- Roast chicken and turkey
- Lobster or crab with butter
- Mushroom risotto
- Gruyère and Comté
Serve a little warmer than the other wines, 50 to 55°F, to let the oak show. 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.
Reasons to buy, and reasons not to
For
- Oak character in a wine the producer describes as tannin-free
- The producer calls the palate "remarkably dry"
- Only $3 more than the standard Brut
Against
- Skip it if you dislike oaky whites
- The producer's notes lead with oak (vanilla, cedar) rather than honey
Best for: Fans of oak-aged whites who want vanilla and spice without the tannin.
Questions about Brut Barrel Fermented
Does it taste like honey?
Going by the producer's notes, less than the others: they lead with cedar, vanilla and stone fruit, with honeysuckle in the background.
