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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 (September 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.
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.
