Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

Mead, the natural aphrodisiac, gets a revival

A West Sussex winery is hoping to revive interest in the medieval honey-based drink, mead, by establishing the UK’s first National Mead Week from 7-13 August. Lurgashall Winery, the UK’s largest mead maker, has organised a week of events in conjunction with the Lythe Hill Hotel & Spa in Haslemere.

Organisers of Mead Week are keen to point out this ancient drink’s reputation as an aid to virility, fertility and longevity. As Jerome Schooler, the American-born proprietor of Lurgashall Winery explains: “It was believed that mead had healing qualities and was an elixir to prolonged life, for strength and virility. Mead was the honeymoon drink, where the couple had a glass of mead each day or night for one lunar month, to make their marriage happy and fruitful. Such attributes are back in demand today.”

Couples wanting to put mead to the test can book into the Lythe Hill Hotel & Spa for a Mead Lovers’ Break costing £210 per person for 48 hours DBB, including a tour of the winery and a bottle of mead in the room before bedtime.

One lucky couple could win a seven-night virility-boosting stay at the hotel by explaining in 50 words, and with tact, how mead-enhanced passion could be an advantage to their relationship (emails to david.armstrong@lyhtehill.co.uk).
During the month of August – designated Mead Month at the four-star hotel – there will be mead-based cocktails, a menu featuring dishes cooked in honey or with mead and an emphasis on the health-giving qualities of honey in the hotel’s Armana spa.

Visitors with charity rather than passion on their minds can enjoy a charity luncheon or Black Tie Gala Dinner at the Lythe Hill Hotel, in aid of Bees for Development. A guest speaker from the charity will explain the work that they do - from bee conservation to providing information and advice to beekeepers in developing countries as a means of creating sustainable livelihoods.

During Mead Week, Lurgashall Winery will open its doors to mead enthusiasts and novice mead drinkers from all over the country. Tasting is available everyday but booking is essential for the guided technical tour of the winery with Wine Maker, Ian Morris and Consultant Wine Maker, Hans Schliefer, which takes place on Wednesday 9 August at 2pm.
A full house is expected for the winery’s Open Day on Friday 11 August from 2pm when visitors can enjoy a tour of the winery and mead tasting as well as traditional rural crafts and entertainment.

Lurgashall Winery is producing a celebratory mead for the event which will be available to buy during the week at each of the events and during the month of August.

Notes to editors:
For more info please visit: www.nationalmeadweek.co.uk

For more details about the events, contact either:

Lythe Hill Hotel & Spa
Emma Nurse
emma@lythehill.co.uk
01428 651251
www.lythehill.co.uk

Lurgashall Winery
Jerome Schooler
jerry@lurgashall.co.uk
01428 707292