Lindisfarne Mead – How to Visit St Aidan’s Winery on Holy Island

If there is one thing I look forward to drinking when I visit Northumberland, it’s Lindisfarne Mead.

Often called the ‘nectar of the gods’, this incredible honey wine has a home on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne.

It’s a small tidal island off the coast, and its history dates back to when Celtic Christian monks lived there.

They established a monastery here in the 7th century and began producing their own mead.

Today, no visit to Lindisfarne would be complete without a visit to St Aidan’s Winery to try some in their showroom.

Firstly, what is mead?

Mead is a type of alcoholic drink that is made in its basic form by fermenting honey with water.

Many types are blended with other ingredients like grains, spices, fruits, and hops. 

Despite the differences in how mead is processed around the world, the defining characteristic of a mead drink is fermented sugar from honey. 

Many countries characterise mead differently. For example, in England mead is a strong honey wine served in small bottles.

In Scandinavia and the Baltics, it’s made more like a strong ale or beer, watered down, and can be consumed in larger quantities.

Mead can be served still, fizzy or sweet, and it’s often mulled as well. It has a long history dating back thousands of years.

The history of mead

Many people associate mead with the Vikings and their famous drinking horns.

But, pottery vessels with traces of mead have been found in China, dating back as far as 7000 BC.

Plus, Vedic texts from ancient India reference the ritual drink Soma as being similar to mead used in religious ceremonies.

Aristotle even referenced mead in his Meteorologica when he discussed affections in air and water.

In the West, many poems have been written about mead throughout history.

Most famously, “The Song of Mead” by the Welsh bard Taliesin. This boasts of warriors drinking and feasting in the mead hall. 

Also, in famous epics like Beowulf, it mentions how Danish warriors drank mead before battle.

In Medieval England, mead became very popular. Due to the main ingredient of honey, fermenting mead and beekeeping became synonymous.

Unfortunately, heavy taxes and alcohol regulations made production difficult; the dissolution of monasteries also caused it to decline.

That is, until fairly recently, when mead is finally making a bit of a comeback.  

Incredible facts about mead 

• The word mead derives from the Olde English term meodu or medu

• Mead was seen as the drink of the gods and is thought to have been consumed by Greek Gods on Mount Olympus. The ancient Egyptians and Mayans also drank it.

• The legendary King Midas was buried with cups full of mead.

• In Norse mythology, Poetic Mead or the Mead of Poetry is a mythical beverage associated with the God Odin.

• Mead was the favourite drink of the legendary King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table

• For centuries, mead was known as a medieval aphrodisiac. A bride’s father would often include mead in a dowry. 

• The word ‘Honeymoon’ comes from the ancient Norwegian tradition of newlyweds drinking mead for a whole moon or month.

• Mead was used as a medicine for years. Herbal or spiced alcoholic medicines are called metheglin.

• You’ll find mead mentioned in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, Beowulf and even in J.R.R Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.

Lindisfarne Mead on Holy Island

So, how did this popular alcoholic beverage become synonymous with Holy Island, which was inhabited entirely by pious Christian monks?

It started with St Aidan in the year 687 AD. He was ordered by King Oswald of Northumbria to establish a monastery on Lindisfarne.

This monastery then became the seat of Celtic Christianity in the Kingdom of Northumbria. 

The monks who lived here were cut off on this desolate island away from the mainland. So, they had to be self-sufficient. 

Along with establishing churches and libraries, they ran their own farms, including a beekeeping farm to produce honey and ferment mead.

It seems unusual for monks to drink alcohol, but monks around the world were expert makers of wine, beer, and spirits.

As well as trading their alcoholic creations and making a mint in the process, the monks took part in what is known as ‘pious drinking’. 

It was believed on Holy Island that if the soul was in God’s keeping, the body must be fortified with Lindisfarne Mead.

Lindisfarne Mead at St Aidan’s Winery

Taxes, alcohol regulations, and the dissolution of many monasteries made mead a rarity beyond the medieval era.

However, Michael Hackett revived Lindisfarne Mead in the 1960s.

The product drew on Lindisfarne’s deep-rooted history and echoed the chapters of St Aidan and the old mead-making tradition. 

So, he started St Aidan’s Winery, which became the home of Lindisfarne Mead.

It has been growing in popularity ever since, and even members of the Royal Family have paid a visit. 

Today, the winery sells approximately 2 million bottles of mead each year in the UK and USA.

Lindisfarne Mead Shop on Holy Island

If you’re planning a trip to Holy Island in Northumberland, no visit would be complete without popping into St Aidan’s Winery.

It’s the official home of Lindisfarne Mead, and you can sample some. They also make their own wines, spirits, and beers. 

You can learn more about the island’s history, and their staff can explain how they make their legendary beverages.

Plus, their craft & gift shop has many souvenirs that you can buy.

Lindisfarne Mead tastings

The best part of visiting St Aidan’s winery is attending one of the sample sessions that they hold regularly throughout the day.

Beyond the obvious draw of trying the mead, these sample sessions are really informative.

They take you through the history of mead as a drink and how mead came to be made on the island. Plus, what goes into this honey wine.

Lindisfarne Mead is made primarily with white grapes, honey, herbs, and natural water from an artesian well on the island.

Enjoy it chilled over ice, or heat it to make a mulled wine. You can cook with it, use it in cocktails, and enjoy it in any season. 

Lindisfarne Mead now comes in many different types, including their Original recipe, Dark, Spicy, and even the Lindisfarne Mead Pink.

You’ll definitely want to take some home. I bought two big bottles in one of their special packs.

St Aidan’s Winery

The beverages section of St Aidan’s Winery is extensive, to say the least. They don’t just sell mead here anymore.

Over the years, the company has expanded and now also makes other alcoholic drinks like Beers and Spirits. 

Harry Hotspur Holdings Company bought Lindisfarne Mead Company in 2014, and it now includes Alnwick Rum and Alnwick Brewery.

The Brewery dates back to the 1860s and produces many popular brews like St Aidan, Oswald Whiteblade, St Cuthbert, Alnwick Gold, Lindisfarne Brown, Alnwick IPA, and Hotspur. 

Also, in the rum category, you can find lots of Holy Island Rums, Golden Spiced, and White Knight.

You can find many types of lovely bottles here, all lovingly produced locally. So, have a browse and see what takes your fancy.

Viking Horns

Home to the famous Lindisfarne Gospels, Holy Island is also renowned as the first place the Vikings invaded England in the 8th century. 

They ended up sacking the priory, killing many monks, and ended up stealing a lot of wealth in the process. 

So, you’ll find a lot of Viking influence on the island, along with museums and exhibitions that explain this dark chapter in history.

Lindisfarne Mead has a unique take on bringing Viking culture to the island by selling their very own Viking drinking horns.

These are produced by the same creators who made the famous drinking horns in Game of Thrones! 

You’ll also see these sorts of drinking horns in movies like Beowulf, The Last Kingdom, and, of course, the Vikings TV series. 

The Lindisfarne Mead Shop 

As well as alcohol, there are other awesome things to buy here as well. It’s also known as an arts, crafts & gift shop.

They sell many Northumberland delicacies, including fudge, preserves, fruit wines, honey, cheese, and Craster kippers. 

The gift section also has lovely Lindisfarne souvenirs like magnets, postcards, and T-shirts. Plus, some Celtic jewellery, pottery, and throws.

I always end up spending so much time here and buying much more than I should. There are just so many lovely things to buy. 

Lindisfarne Mead opening times

If you did want to visit, you need to travel to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne in Northumberland. But please check tide times before you go.

It’s open every day of the week, so it’s best to check before you go.

Things to do in Holy Island

If you’re heading to Lindisfarne and are looking for more amazing things to do, then you will be truly spoilt for choice. 

Holy Island is one of the most magical places to visit in the UK, and it’s home to many museums, ruins, castles, art galleries, and cafes.

I recommend starting at the Lindisfarne Priory and Museum, owned by English Heritage. 

Here, you can learn the full history of the island and visit the ruins of the Lindisfarne Priory that was attacked. 

You can also head over to Lindisfarne Castle, renovated by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Or, take a stroll and see the curious upside-down boat sheds on the bay.

Where is the Holy Island of Lindisfarne?

The Holy Island of Lindisfarne is a tidal island off the coast of Northumberland. You can only access it at low tide. 

Low tide happens twice a day, and the times vary. So, always check the official tide times before your visit. 

Once the waves depart, the ocean will reveal the Holy Island Causeway.

In Britain, I don’t think a summer goes by without us hearing about a car or camper van that’s been stuck or swept away by high tide.

It can happen to anyone. So, please read the tide timings before you go and don’t take any unnecessary risks.

Holy Island Accommodation

If you ever wondered if you could stay on the island itself, the answer is yes. 

There are plenty of options available, from a hotel to a room at the inn and Northumberland B&B’s.

You can’t always find these on sites like Booking.com, so book directly.  Here are a few options below:

• Belvue Guesthouse – a brand new property for 2019, so brand new rooms and facilities! 

• Lindisfarne Hotel – the original hotel on Holy Island, not cheap but highly recommended

• The Ship Inn – modest rooms above a cosy pub with a super restaurant

• The Crown and Anchor – has recently refurbished rooms overlooking the market square

Hotels near Holy Island

Also, if you don’t want to be restricted by tide times, you can stay near Holy Island. 

I would personally recommend the Lindisfarne Inn. Click here to read my full review.

If you’re looking for cheap backpacker accommodation near Holy Island, check out the Lindisfarne Backpackers Hostel here.

Read my Northumberland guides

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Visiting the only poison garden in the world

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Eating in the world’s largest treehouse!

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Visit the magical Barter Books in Alnwick

Why you must visit Bamburgh Castle at Christmas

Save Lindisfarne Mead for later