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Mead: The World’s Oldest Wine—The History, The Brewing, The Bees.

Sisters, Glenda Downs and Denice Ingalls, join Cellar Talks for an evening exploring and tasting this ancient elixir.

Denice Ingalls – Founder & CFO (Chief Fermentation Officer) Denice Ingalls is the founder and head meadmaker of Sky River Mead, one of the oldest commercial meaderies in the United States. A graduate of Pepperdine University with a degree in Economics, she founded Sky River Mead in 1997 while raising her children as a single mother, turning a passion for honey into a lifelong pursuit of crafting exceptional mead. Inspired by her family’s beekeeping heritage and the remarkable complexity of honey, Denice has spent nearly three decades redefining mead as a refined, food-friendly wine worthy of the modern table. As one of the few women leading production in the craft wine and mead industry when she founded Sky River Mead, and still part of a profession where women remain underrepresented, she has quietly helped pave the way through innovation, perseverance, and exceptional craftsmanship. Her meads have earned hundreds of national and international awards, introducing countless people to the artistry and versatility of honey wine. When she’s not in the meadery, Denice can often be found with her pup Keeva, immersed in a woodworking project, practicing archery, or exploring the endless nuances of honey…always searching for the next flavor, story, or inspiration.

Glenda Downs – Director of Curiosity & Creativity Glenda Downs joined Sky River Mead in 2007, bringing together her passions for storytelling, art, hospitality, and the natural world. She leads Sky River’s marketing, educational programming, events, and guest experience, helping introduce a new generation to the beauty and versatility of mead. A watercolor artist and former beekeeper, Glenda creates the original artwork for Sky River Mead’s labels, drawing inspiration from botanicals and the elegant, stylized poster art of the early twentieth century. She also cultivates many of the ingredients featured in Sky River’s meads, including lavender, chamomile, hops, and peppers. She believes that the best flavors begin with a connection to the land. Whether designing a label, tending the garden, leading a tasting, or teaching a creative workshop, Glenda enjoys sharing the story of honey from flower to glass. When she’s not at the meadery, she can usually be found with a paintbrush in one hand or a fishing rod in the other, happily accompanied by one or more of her somewhat silly spaniels. Her hope is that every guest leaves with a deeper appreciation for honey and mead, a new favorite mead, and a story worth sharing.