We love to see our visitor businesses thrive. Starrlight Mead at The Plant continues to shine bright, and you’ll find a new sparkle in their collection as they launch a mini-rebrand with Starrlight Mead & Cider.
Mead Making with The Starrs
Starrlight Mead began as a home mead-making project for Becky and Ben Starr after they tasted mead, or honey wine, for the first time at a Renaissance Faire in California. The couple quickly grew to love the process, sharing their creations with friends and fellow home mead makers, who all gave rave reviews. But it wasn’t until they received “Best In Show” at the International Mead Association’s Mead Festival in 2006 that the Starrs realized they were on to something truly special. That same year, they started working on a business plan, and in 2010, they officially opened Starrlight Mead.
Now, nearly 15 years later, their business has blossomed from a hobby into an award-winning honey winery with a starr-studded team. Ben is the chief mazer (mead maker) for Starrlight, carefully crafting a selection that spans the traditional tastes of dry, semi-sweet, and sweet wines to seasonal fruit and herb-infused meads. Becky oversees the day-to-day operations of the tasting room and business, as well as the many events the meadery hosts throughout the year. Over the years, the Starrs have received numerous awards and accolades for their meads, including gold medals at the prestigious Finger Lakes International Wine Competition. Some recent highlights include:
- 2019 – Double Gold Medal: Finger Lakes International – Wildfoam Traditional.
- 2019 – Gold Medal: Mid-Atlantic Southeastern Wine Competition – Ginger Herb.
- 2021 – Gold Medals: Finger Lakes International – Honeyed Blackberry & Chai Herb.
- 2022 – Best in Show/Double Gold Medal: NC Mead, Cider, & Fruit Competition – Spiced Apple.
- 2023 – Double Gold Medal: American Wine Society Competition – Gallberry Blossom Trad.
- 2024 – Gold Medal: NC Mead and Cider Competition – Blueberry Off-dry.
Introducing Starrlight Cider
Seeking a novel challenge, The Starrs decided to branch into the cider-making business and purchased Chatham Cider Works from the previous owners during the first few months of 2023. Hard cider was once widely produced and consumed in the United States; however, its production declined significantly during the Prohibition era. Over the last two decades, it has experienced a resurgence, with cider makers and consumers discovering the varied possibilities of the product.
For two years, the couple bottled and sold cider under the Chatham Cider Works label made by Starrlight Mead. During that time, their team worked diligently on a rebranding plan, and we’ve been buzzing with excitement to share a look at the new Starrlight Cider!
Their team officially unveiled Starrlight Cider in late May (NC Wine Month) to Mead Club members and their guests. “We’re very excited to rebrand the ciders,” shared Becky Starr. “We’ve been making them for almost two years now, and it’s great to have them under the Starrlight umbrella finally.”
Starrlight Cider has a new name and look, but rest assured: you will enjoy the same award-winning taste. The selection of apples for cider has a significant impact on the flavor. Starrlight sources local and mountain apples for their flavor profiles, producing a balanced cider with light acidity and tannins. Their hard cider is also unfiltered and higher in alcohol than most other commercial brands. It falls between a wine and a beer in terms of alcohol levels.
Their four core cider flavors include:
- Starry Crisp (formerly Carolina Crisp): Crisp, tart, dry cider.
- Pink Crisp (formerly Pink Dogwood): Sweetened with tart cherry juice.
- Mystic Crisp (formerly Hwy 64): Starry Crisp cider aged in rum and whiskey barrels.
- Honey’d Crisp: Starry Crisp cider with a touch of Starrlight honey.
Starrlight also offers a rotating selection of seasonal ciders. This summer’s flavors include:
- Rosy Apple: A lightly sweet cider made with rose, hibiscus, and apple.
- Pine-Apple: A lightly sweet cider made with pineapple and apple.
Summer at Starrlight
Summer seasonal meads are back! The Rita, a margarita-flavored mead, makes a great Strawberry Rita Sangria (Starrlight offers a different Sangria flavor every weekend throughout the summer). Their Lavender mead sells out quickly and pairs great with lemonade (available on tap throughout the summer). In addition to six ciders on tap, Starrlight has two session meads for your enjoyment:
- Little Dipper: Session mead made with dark cherry, cloves, and allspice.
- Hercules: Lemonade and sweet tea-inspired mead (a summer favorite).
Opt for a guided tasting or enjoy a glass of mead or cider on the wrap-around porch, with picturesque views of The Plant. You’re also welcome to grab a growler or bottle to enjoy with dinner or on a picnic in our natural areas.
Tastings and tours, home mead-making classes, local Beekeeper Association meetings, monthly sound bath meditations, and educational programs with wildlife rescue CLAWS are all part of the experience. Occasionally, Starrlight Mead partners with local makers to offer crafting and painting workshops, such as Sip & Pour classes featuring The Plant’s own Essence 4 You Candles. Mead Fest is Starrlight’s annual mini Renaissance faire and celebration of all things honey wine. This year’s festival takes place Sat, Sep 27, 12pm-5pm.
No matter your plans, we invite you to Starrlight Mead to savor a sip of award-winning honey wine and cider. Cheers!
Starrlight Mead and Cider is part of the Chatham County Craft Beverages & Country Inns Trail. Find their cider on tap and in bottles at select craft beverage sites throughout Chatham County and the broader Triangle region, including Havoc Brewing Company, Fair Game Beverage Company, bmc brewing, and 580 Craft Beer.