The Honey Wine Company

What The Honey Wine Company does

The Honey Wine Company, LLC, operating as BEE D'VINE, is a California-based craft winery that produces and sells premium honey wines (mead) under the Bee d'Vine brand and a sister grape wine label, WANCHA. Founded by Ethiopian-born winemaker Ayele Solomon — a Food & Wine Magazine Tastemaker — the company applies classical French winemaking techniques (10–30 months barrel aging in Dargaud & Jaegle French oak at 55°F, minimum 3 years bottle conditioning, two-step natural fermentation for sparkling variants) to raw honey and spring water, producing only two-ingredient wines with no grains, fruits, additives, or adjuncts. The portfolio spans dry (Brut) and semi-sweet (Demi Sec) styles in still and sparkling formats, including the world's first dry barrel-fermented honey wine (Brut Barrel Fermented), a limited 50-case Brut X Reserve aged 24 months in French oak, single-origin varietals from Ethiopia (Geteme) and Tanzania (Miombo), and the only 3-liter double magnum honey wine format in the world. The company also offers an award-winning book, 'The Celebrated Story of Honey Wine' (Gourmand 'best wine history book in the world'), and traditional Ethiopian Berelē glassware.

The business operates a hybrid go-to-market: direct-to-consumer e-commerce through beedvine.com with same-day nationwide shipping, a subscription wine club (Club d'Vine) with 1–6 month delivery cadence, 4-bottle minimum shipments, and $70+ in first-shipment gifts, plus B2B/hospitality distribution through Ethiopian Airlines (in-flight service to 100+ countries) and fine-dining establishments. Pricing is publicly disclosed across the range from $35 (WANCHA Chardonnay) to $49–$67 (core 750ml honey wines) to $349 (3L double magnums). Revenue streams include one-time DTC purchases, recurring subscription revenue, and B2B/event bulk orders. Marketing is anchored by earned media — a rare four-shark Shark Tank deal (November 2020), NBC TODAY Show, PBS, Wine Enthusiast, and Food & Wine — supplemented by content marketing, organic social (@BEEDVINE), and an award-winning book. Production occurs at a single Sonoma winery south of Santa Rosa; the mailing address is in San Francisco. The company previously operated a tasting bar at San Francisco's Ferry Building (the first honey wine tasting bar in that venue), which closed in February 2020 due to COVID-19.

Name

The Honey Wine Company

Legal name

The Honey Wine Company, LLC

Website

https://beedvine.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Honey Wine Company is a Sonoma-based craft winery producing premium dry and semi-sweet honey wines under the Bee d'Vine brand, applying classical French winemaking techniques to raw honey and spring water. It sells direct-to-consumer online, through a subscription wine club (Club d'Vine), via Ethiopian Airlines in-flight service, and via fine-dining partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Honey Wine (Mead)

NAICS

Wineries (312130), Grape Vineyards (111332)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYCRADAIAG

Mead Producers & Brands

Consumer Products & Retail/Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) Manufacturing & Brands/Alcoholic Beverages (Beer, Wine, Spirits) Manufacturing & Brands

SECONDARYCRADAIAB

Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands

Consumer Products & Retail/Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) Manufacturing & Brands/Alcoholic Beverages (Beer, Wine, Spirits) Manufacturing & Brands

SECONDARYAFAFAAAF

Mead Production

Agriculture & Food Production/Beverage Production/Alcoholic Beverage Production (Beer, Wine, Spirits, Cider)

SECONDARYAFAEAHAM

Value-Added Bee Products Manufacturing (Candles, Cosmetics, Supplements, Mead Ingredients)

Agriculture & Food Production/Animal Production & Aquaculture/Apiculture (Beekeeping)

SECONDARYAFAGAJAJ

Wine Grape Vineyard Operations (Varietal/AVA Practices, Yield & Quality Targets)

Agriculture & Food Production/Crop Farming/Viticulture & Vineyard Operations (Grapes for Wine/Table)

SECONDARYTHAFALAE

Wineries & Vineyards (Tasting Rooms)

Travel & Hospitality/Foodservice & Beverage (Restaurants, Cafes, Bars)/Breweries, Wineries & Distilleries (Taprooms/Tasting Rooms)

Keywords

• Premium honey wine
• Craft mead production
• Wine subscription club
• Barrel-aged mead
• Direct-to-consumer wine

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct-to-Consumer Online Sales: The company sells its honey wines (Bee d’Vine and WANCHA grape wines) directly through its e-commerce website beedvine.com. Orders ship nationwide with same-day dispatch for orders by 2pm PT. Products include still and sparkling variants in 750ml and 3L formats, priced from $35 to $349 per bottle. A Club d’Vine subscription offers recurring deliveries every 1–6 months at $49–$67 per bottle with free shipping and first-shipment perks.
2. International Airline / Hospitality: Bee d’Vine is served on Ethiopian Airlines, making it accessible to passengers in over 100 countries. It was also served at fine-dining establishments and restaurants, representing a B2B/hospitality revenue stream.
3. Subscription Wine Club (Club d’Vine): Club d’Vine is a recurring subscription model with delivery frequencies of every 1–6 months. Minimum 4 bottles per shipment, 2 minimum deliveries before cancellation. Members receive free shipping, Berelé flask set, hardcover book, and artisanal vinegar in the first shipment. Subscription prices range $49–$67 per bottle depending on varietal.
4. B2B / Bulk Orders: The company offers bulk discounts and custom wedding/event labeling for celebrations. The website references bulk order inquiries and event consultation for wedding pairings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Honey Wine Company crafts and sells premium dry and semi-sweet honey wines (mead) under the Bee d'Vine brand, made from only raw honey and spring water, barrel-aged in French oak and offered in still and sparkling variants across eleven varietals. Its core revenue is generated through direct-to-consumer online sales via beedvine.com and a recurring wine club (Club d'Vine), supplemented by hospitality/airline distribution (notably Ethiopian Airlines) and bulk event orders. A sister brand, WANCHA, extends the portfolio to sustainable California grape wines.

Product overview

The Honey Wine Company produces premium honey wines under the BEE D'VINE brand, along with a sister grape wine brand called WANCHA. The core portfolio consists of two main honey wine styles: Brut (dry) and Demi Sec (semi-sweet), each available in still and sparkling variations. Premium expressions include Brut X Reserve (limited 50-case edition aged 24 months in French oak), Brut Barrel Fermented (world's first dry barrel-fermented honey wine), and Fresca (lighter sessionable sparkling at 11.5% ABV). Specialty single-origin varieties feature Ethiopian Geteme and Tanzanian Miombo honeys. The company also offers large-format 3-liter double magnums, the only such honey wines in the world. WANCHA Chardonnay represents the company's venture into sustainable California grape wines. Additional offerings include Club d'Vine subscription service, an award-winning honey wine history book, traditional Berele glasses, and aged artisanal vinegar as member perks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WANCHA: A sister grape wine brand under The Honey Wine Company, producing wines from organic or certified sustainable vineyards. Currently offers 2017 Chardonnay and 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon.

Products and services

• Brut (Dry) Honey Wine Premium dry still honey wine in a 750ml bottle at 12.5% ABV with ~120 calories per glass, crafted from raw honey and spring water with notes of tropical fruit, honeysuckle, white pepper and dry wildgrass.
• Brut Sparkling (Dry) Honey Wine Sparkling dry honey wine in a 750ml bottle ($59) produced using natural fermentation for a crisp, complex profile and versatile food pairing.
• Brut Fresca Sparkling (Dry) Honey Wine Light, sessionable sparkling dry honey wine at 11.5% ABV ($56 per 750ml), crafted via a unique two-step fermentation in stainless steel with wintergreen, honeydew, and lilac notes.
• Brut X Reserve (Dry) Honey Wine Limited-edition pinnacle dry honey wine; 750ml at $67, only 50 cases produced from the 2017 honey harvest, aged 24 months in premium French oak.
• Brut Barrel Fermented (Dry) Honey Wine World's first dry, tannin-free barrel-fermented honey wine, 750ml at $52, aged with micro-oxygenation at 55°F in French oak with nutty, cedar, honeysuckle, creamy vanilla, stone fruit, and coconut notes.
• Demi Sec (Semi Sweet) Honey Wine Semi-sweet still honey wine at ~12.5% ABV and ~140 calories per glass, with balanced sweetness and crisp refreshment featuring spiced apples, pears, melon gelato, and mint notes.
• Demi Sec Sparkling (Semi Sweet) Honey Wine Sparkling semi-sweet honey wine produced via natural fermentation, offering fruity, floral aromas with bubbles.
• Demi Sec Geteme (Semi Sweet) Honey Wine Semi-sweet honey wine made with Ethiopian Geteme honey, 750ml at $52, showcasing a single-origin Ethiopian varietal flavor profile.
• Demi Sec Miombo (Semi Sweet) Honey Wine Semi-sweet honey wine made with Tanzanian Miombo forest honey, 750ml at $52, featuring a terroir-driven flavor profile.
• 3L Brut (Dry) Honey Wine Double Magnum 3-liter double magnum (Jeroboam) of dry honey wine at $349, equivalent to four standard bottles and ~20 glasses, presented in clear glass with hand-applied wax-dipped cork.
• 3L Demi Sec (Semi Sweet) Honey Wine Double Magnum 3-liter double magnum (Jeroboam) of semi-sweet honey wine at $349, equivalent to four standard bottles and ~20 glasses, hand-bottled with hand wax-dipped cork.
• Wancha Chardonnay Sustainable California Chardonnay from Bartolucci Vineyards in Lake County, 2017 vintage at 12% ABV priced at $35 per 750ml, with green apple and creamy vanilla notes; 'Wancha' means 'horn cup' / 'winner's trophy' in Amharic.
• Club d'Vine Subscription Recurring wine subscription delivering curated honey wines on a 1–6 month cadence at $49–$67 per bottle with free shipping; minimum 4 bottles per shipment and 2 minimum deliveries before cancellation; first shipment includes $70+ in gifts (Berel\u00e9 flask set, hardcover book, artisanal vinegar).
• The Celebrated Story of Honey Wine (Book) Award-winning book (Gourmand Prize 'best in the world' for wine history books) by winemaker Ayele Solomon; available as a free 1-click e-book or audiobook, covering the history and traditions of honey wine.
• Berele Glass Traditional Ethiopian drinking glass/flask for serving honey wine; included as a free gift with Club d'Vine membership or available for individual purchase.

Quantifiable outcome

• Under 150 calories per glass (Brut ~120 cal, Demi Sec ~140 cal per 150ml)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ethiopian AirlinescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBee d’Vine is served on Ethiopian Airlines flights, making it the first honey wine to be served on an international airline. This partnership provides distribution to passengers in over 100 countries and has been featured in Pax International and Apex Aviation hospitality publications. Ethiopian Airlines serves as both a distribution channel and a prestigious hospitality endorsement.
• Bartolucci Vineyards (Lake County, California)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSource of Chardonnay grapes for the WANCHA grape wine brand. Bartolucci Vineyards is a California Certified Sustainable Vineyard, providing the company with sustainably sourced grape inputs for its sister wine brand.
• Rural Beekeeping Families & Tropical-Forest CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Honey Wine Company partners with rural beekeeping families and tropical-forest communities globally (including Ethiopia’s Kafa rainforest and Tanzania’s Miombo Forest). This partnership creates economic incentives to preserve forests and protect pollinators, supporting the company’s conservation mission.
• KickstarterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe company ran a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign to support the launch and scaling of Bee d’Vine honey wine, providing early-stage capital and community validation.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCjyvjCGbXT54KyP0HVRwBKw
• Facebookfacebook.com/BeeDvine
• Instagraminstagram.com/beedvine
• Pinterestpinterest.com/beedvine/_created
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-honey-wine-company

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Honey Wine Company