Winemaker Reggie Hammond has unveiled Honeyvine, a wine white twist on the ancient honey drink mead.

Honeyvine is a proprietary blend of premium Califnronia white wine, natural honey, and orange blossom honey essence for a crisp wine, Hammond says. It is cool-fermented in stainless steel tanks.

Just as wine derives taste and other qualities from its terroir, so too does honey take on the qualities of the flower pollen the bees take back to the hive.

Honeyvine is sweet enough to serve as a dessert wine, an aperitif, or with lighter food dishes. The suggested retail price is $14.99 for a 750-ml. bottle.