St. Ambrose Cellars
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We started keeping bees almost 32 years ago and quickly became full time beekeepers in the early 1980’s. We named our company Sleeping Bear Farms, inspired by the awesome Sleeping Bear Dunes, which is now a national park.
As beekeepers having access to an almost unlimited supply of honey, making mead was a natural course to follow. Some were good and that was enough to pursue a life long quest to make great mead. Over the years, with the help of local winemakers in our region, a knowledge of good wine-making technique was acquired and applied to mead making.
It wasn’t long before we were making 100-200 cases a year for our beekeeping staff and friends and supplying mead for our music festival friends. The idea of starting a commercial winery was entertained and we obtained the paperwork to obtain our license. Ironically, it sat buried in a pile for 10 years before we filed the paperwork and started purchasing larger stainless fermenting vessels, pumps, chilling equipment, and filters. The vision was being realized.
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Cherry Amore
Local Montmorency tart cherry, Benzie County Pinot Noir, and our wild honey fermented together.
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Dancing Bare
An Elegant expression of an ancient beverage made with Northern Michigan's most celebrated noble grape that we manually pressed and fermented with Star Thistle Honey from Sleeping Bear Farms.
It is a semi-sweet pyment (wine made with grapes and honey) with fruity notes, floral undertones and a crisp finish.
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Elderflower Nectar
Elderflowers evoke lazy summer afternoons with perfumed floral breezes. Popular in Europe since roman times, Elderflower is enjoying a renaissance in North America. Made with Sleeping Bear Farms Star Thistle Honey and Elderflowers.
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Razzmatazz
Opulent raspberry and honey flavors with a clean crips finish. Pairs existentially with chocolate, or delightful on its own as a desert. Here’s to the Bee Goddess!
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Riesling Reserve
Th is Riesling is an exemplary specimen of Benzie Co. terroir and the incredible 2010 growing season. It boasts bold tropical fruit aromas and a long crisp finish. Perfect with seafood, foul salads, cheeses and good conversation.
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Star Thistle Ambrosia
A refreshing modern expression of the world’s most ancient fermented drink. This mead features the floral notes of Star Thistle honey produced at Sleeping Bear Farms in northern Michigan.
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