By Kristie Paine, Bushveld Bees, 5 Nov 2026

Fellow community members Brian and Kristie Paine open KwaZulu-Natal’s first meadery

The College Connect Business Community has a new local success story to celebrate. KZN Meadery, owned by Howick entrepreneurs Brian and Kristie Paine, has opened its doors in the Midlands as the first meadery in KwaZulu-Natal – something worth raising a glass to!

Mead, often called the world’s oldest alcoholic drink, is steeped in legend. It features in the tales of Robin Hood, where Friar Tuck smuggled the golden drink in his cart, and the Vikings revered it as the ‘Drink of the Gods’. Folklore even links it to the honeymoon, when newlyweds received a supply of honey wine in the hope of being blessed with a son.

Today, mead is enjoying a remarkable revival. Across Europe and America it is reportedly one of the fastest-growing categories in the alcoholic beverage industry.

Brian and Kristie have been crafting mead since 2020 and have earned numerous accolades for their varietals, including Best Mead in Africa in 2023. That success provides a solid foundation for their latest venture, and a fine example of what local businesses can achieve.

Visitors are welcomed into a one-of-a-kind tasting room, complete with a Viking longboat-inspired bar and a magnificent dragon’s head mounted at the bow. Mead tastings are held at The Mead & Honey Bar at The Netherwood Farm in Nottingham Road, where guests can discover the different flavours on offer.

The meadery’s reach already extends well beyond the Midlands. Last weekend, nine participants attended a Christmas Mead-Making Course, one of them joining live from Zambia. In total, the team has trained more than 120 people across the country.

For fellow business owners, there is plenty of opportunity ahead. Plans include guided tasting experiences, team-building mead-making courses and special functions, all of which could suit staff events, client gifting or networking evenings. Other mead makers can also use the facilities to bring their own recipes and creations to market.

With the festive season approaching, a bottle of mead makes a truly unusual gift. Supporting local businesses like KZN Meadery is what our community is all about. Congratulations, Brian and Kristie, on a wonderful addition to the Midlands!

The Midlands has a new reason to celebrate – and this time, it’s all about the honey!

For upcoming courses, events and enquiries, find Bushveld Bees on the College Connect Business Directory by clicking here: Bushveld Bees – College Connect