Point Reyes Buzz

Visit Heidrun Meadery in Point Reyes

Next time you want to go to wine country, head for Point Reyes Station. It's home to Heidrun Meadery, a sweet secret worthy of some buzz. Heidrun is a master of "honey wine" (aka mead) and beekeeping! Unlike most meads (which are still), Heidrun uses the French champagne method in addition to a unique infusion of champagne yeast to give the mead a light, natural carbonation. The result is dry, delicate, and naturally sparkling varietals. Reserve a 60-minute tour ($15) and learn more about honeybees and how sparkling mead is made in Heidrun's small production facility. You'll conclude with a generous patio tasting flight of four or more of their refreshing seasonal offerings, such as California Orange Blossom and Point Reyes Wildflower. In between pours, explore the property's radiant fields, gardens, and greenhouse. Flowering plants available to the honeybees create spellbinding displays of color. Several hives are dispersed throughout Marin County and neighboring Sonoma County, while 12 remain on site for you to observe. Last year 600 pounds of honey was harvested from only eight hives. Those are some busy bees!

HIKING BONUS: Follow the bees to Muddy Hollow Trail for an easy 4-mile out-and-back hike to Limantour Beach through Point Reyes' coastal scrub. For a longer and easy 7-mile loop, connect Muddy Hollow to Bucklin Trail and trek through the area devastated by the 1995 Mount Vision fire before returning via Drakes View Trail.

Heidrun Meadery, 11925 Hwy. 1, Point Reyes Station, (415) 663-9122; Saturday and Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Hour-long tours, which include a patio tasting flight, are scheduled at 11:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. every day for $15. Call ahead. Patio tasting flights only are $10 and should also be reserved. No dogs. To get to Muddy Hollow Trailhead from Heidrun Meadery, head southeast on Hwy. 1, turn right onto Sir Francis Drake Blvd., left onto Bear Valley Rd., and right onto Limantour Rd. for approximately 6 miles. Sign for the trailhead will be on the right. No dogs.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. All right, Almaden!

    Take a trip through time on this 5-mile loop in Almaden Quicksilver County Park. Explore the ruins of an old cinnabar mine and enjoy the first hints of wildflower season.

    View
  2. Waterfalls and Wine Pours

    Cooler temps, green hills, and the return of our magnificent waterfalls! This family-friendly 2-mile hike at Uvas Canyon County Park in Morgan Hill is a great way to get the most out of a short hike post-rain.

    View
  3. Woman hiker is climbing up the ladder in the Steep Ravine section of the Dipsea Loop Trail on Mount Tam

    Misty on Mount Tam

    Mount Tam’s 3.9-mile round-trip Steep Ravine and Dipsea Trail Loop weathers the wets and wilds with some confidence, sheltered in parts by redwoods, and wowing with a waterfall.

    View
  4. Mile-Long Cataract Club

    In winter after heavy rains, the north flank of Mount Tam glows with flows. The nearly mile-long series of waterfalls—Cataract Falls—transforms into a supercharged spectacle. Starting at Alpine Dam, a 1.6 mile (one-way) narrow trails threads through redwoods and ferns along Cataract Creek.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    Hidden Gems of Reno Tahoe

    Step into a land where adventure meets relaxation. Reno Tahoe is where the spirit of the great outdoors and the energy of vibrant city life inspire you to live with no limits.

    View
  2. Peace Labyrinth

    Hidden in LA’s historic West Adams district, the Peace Awareness Labyrinth & Gardens is a welcome respite from the norms of urban noise.

    View
  3. Weekend Sherpa Podcast: Take It Outside

    Adventure for your earbuds. What's new in the world of the outdoors? Listen to Weekend Sherpa co-founders discuss local hikes, beaches, bike rides, camping spots and all kinds of travel and adventure in California and beyond!

    View
  4. Hikers sitting on a large rock slab next to Three Sisters Falls in Cleveland National Forest Southern California near Julian

    Three Sisters

    Good things come in threes at this hike to a lovely trio-tiered waterfall in Cleveland National Forest. The 4.25-mile out-and-back hike rambles among rolling hills, with rocky mountain views as switchbacks take you down to a lush canyon and the falls.

    View