Dave Bragg on Turning Honey into a Business

I talk with Dave Bragg, owner of Wandering Wind Meadery, Charleston’s first and only meadery. I ask what mead is, and he explains it as honey wine with traditions across many cultures, not just Viking pop culture. I dig into how he starts the business, and he traces it back to a life in performance and medieval re-enactment, where mead is common. He opened on a small budget with no big investors, and he admits his biggest mistake is starting too small, which slows growth until he upgraded equipment about a year to a year and a half in. We break down how mead differs from beer and wine, and he ties it to where the sugars come from, with beer needing grain and extra steps, while honey and fruit wines ferment without that boil. When I ask about his current hurdles, he points to staffing because bigger batches and events need more people. He encourages venue owners to lean on local performers to build community and spread the word.