Wine vs. Mead

[Drew]

I have to disagree with you. My sources tell me mead is "brewed" from 3 main ingredients....water, honey and yeast. Here's an old recipe:
An Englishman, Sir Kenelme Digbe (1669) came up with this nifty recipe: ..."As I made it weak for the Queen Mother: Take 18 quarts of spring-water, and one quart of honey; when the water is warm, put the honey into it. When it boileth up, skim it very well, and continue skimming it, as long as any scum will rise. Then put in one Race of Ginger (sliced in thin slices), four cloves, and a little sprig of green Rosemary. Let these boil in the Liquor so long, till in all it have boiled one hour. Then set it to cool, till it be blood-warm; and then put into it a spoonful of Ale-yest. When it is worked up, put it into a vessel of a fit size; after two or three days, bottle it up. You may drink it after six weeks, or two moneths. Thus was the Hydromel made that I gave the Queen, which was exceedingly liked by everbody."
I would call this a fermented beverage but neither wine, " the fermented juice of fresh grapes used as a beverage" or beer,"an alcoholic beverage usually made from malted cereal grain (as barley), flavored with hops, and brewed by slow fermentation." as definitions go.

Drew