Meadmaster Jon Hamilton with a historic copper mead maker. Photos by Parker Sterling.

Long before there was a real understanding of the value of bees, the art of beekeeping, and the intertwined fate of bees and humans, Jon and Kim Hamilton were already grounded in that consciousness and looking and leaning into the future.

“We had always wanted to start a business, I was keeping bees for a few years, but there is not much money in selling raw honey so we thought why not mead? That led to a few years of research and development and to our incorporation in January of 1996…the value added product made sense. We wanted to make something unique, and delicious that was able to compete on the world stage,” says White Winter Winery co-owner and co-founder Jon Hamilton.

Making a cranberry mead.

When it came time to create their mead business, the couple focused on Iron River, Wis., situated between Superior and Ashland, for a few wise reasons: “It was on a major highway, had good traffic and was not too far from home. More importantly the water was very good!” the Hamiltons enthuse.

Since 1996, White Winter Winery has survived and thrived, and the Hamiltons have seen some history.
“In 30 years we have been through eight presidential elections, three recessions, five federal government shutdowns and one pandemic. We really are too stubborn to quit!”

That steadfastness has allowed them to not only survive a lot of history and economic change but to also become an integral part of the Iron River and Northwoods community. The meadery has become a favorite landing spot for mead lovers and folks looking for live music, good conversations, open mics, art and yoga classes, and more.

While the challenges of creating a new business and introducing a new experience to Northwoods customers were many and frequent, the Hamiltons approached the challenges – and the journey as a whole – not only with resolution but a positive attitude.

They acknowledge their gratitude for the triumphs and challenges, both of which allowed them to welcome “So many new friends and so many learning opportunities every day and so many ways to share with family and friends. The challenges just add to the fun,” the Hamiltons share and add, “Even on a day when everything feels like it’s going wrong, I remember there are more than a million people out there who only dream about what we get to do every day.”

And in that same three decades, White Winter Winery has evolved from humble beginnings to an award-winning and celebrated mead producer that has crafted a line of award-winning line of meads, hard ciders, and spirits for a diversified palette of tastes. From the bee to the fruit to the barrel to the bottle, each White Winter offering is “Handcrafted using golden honey and sun-ripened fruits sourced directly from local family farms.”

In fact, from the beginning, White Winter Winery has made it part of its mission to support local producers and artisans. From maple syrup to soaps and balms to beeswax candles, White Winter Winery offers an opportunity for customers to find locally-sourced and crafted quality personal and home care products, as well as some absolutely delicious mead. (“Sima” is this mead-lovers drink of choice.)

White Winter co-founder Kim Hamilton.

So now “Wisconsin’s Oldest Meadery” is about to blow it out in celebration of its 30th. So who should come out and join the celebration? “Everyone!” enthuses co-owner Kim Hamilton who continues, “We are so fortunate to have one of our college friends coming to play the opener, Bently and the Deal, and Tennessee Whiskey Revival is the headline band. Ben Brehm and his band play mostly original tunes and are super fun. Tennessee Whiskey is fronted by Scott Kirby who is a fantastic musician and a dead-ringer for Chris Stapleton. It’s going to be a lot of fun! We will of course have some great meads available, some legacy meads we have stashed for a few years, some re-releases like Bouchet, Ice Cider, and Bourbon Barrel Aged Cyser, etc. I am scrambling to get them all done before the event!” The festivities kick off at noon on Sunday the 6th and run until 6 pm.““We invite everyone, whether you’ve been with us since 1996 or are just discovering us now, to come to Iron River and raise a glass with us,” adds co-founder Kim Hamilton. “This anniversary isn’t just about our history; it’s about the future of craft in Wisconsin.”

“When we started in 1996, many people didn’t even know what mead was,” says co-founder Jon Hamilton. “To be here 30 years later celebrating with the community that has supported us from the beginning, is incredibly humbling. We’ve grown from an unknown entity into a place where people come to experience the true flavor of the Northwoods,” he shares.

Jon Hamilton plays harmonica with his band Moss Oak at White Winter Winery.

But White Winter isn’t just looking back; it’s moving forward: “We just started the Krischwasser, a white spirit made from local cherries. The future is bright with some surprises coming on the horizon,” says co-founder and meadmaster Jon Hamilton who also notes, “We have been doing this a long time, but innovation in product is still very relevant and fun. Sima is one that comes to mind, Sima is based off of a Finnish folk drink made from maple water (sap) honey spirits we distill on-site, honey and lemon. It’s a great example of one of the really unique drinks we make, sourced locally with the help of 18 Mile Creek Sugar Bush.”

For more information on White Winter Winery’s 30th-anniversary event, its tasting room, its hours or its product line, visit whitewinter.com/events.