Not all meads are created equal.

Heidrun orange blossom sparkling mead, $20

Rabbit's Foot apple cyser, $12

B. Nektar Meadery bourbon barrel mead, $27

Hive

Mentality

Mead is old school. As in, one of the world's first alcoholic beverages, old school. Which may be why it fell out of favor with vinophiles; until recently when the honey wine was taken back from the Renaissance Fair geeks and brought back into the foodie fold. It's now popping up on various wine lists thanks to its rustic, regional charm. One of the labels leading the way is Maine Mead Works, founded by a pair of guys who've been crafting the stuff in small batches out of an industrial space in downtown Portland, Maine since 2007. Created entirely from honey, you might expect a cloyingly sweet dessert wine, but this mead is actually more of a food-friendly semi-dry white with just a touch of sweetness. In short, the perfect starter wine to show up with—whether to Thanksgiving or to any of the holiday parties you have coming up.

HoneyMaker Dry Mead, $14