Hill Top Berry Farm Winery and Meadery

10/19/2026

10/18/2026

Heartbreak on the Hill 💔

Yesterday before daylight, we lost two of our beloved goats in a bear attack here at Hill Top W**ery & Meadery.

Many of you knew Dicey, our 10-year-old girl who was special to all of us. Dicey came into our lives as an orphan on the very day she was born. We bottle-raised her, and she became the beginning of our goat herd.

Over the years, she became the boss of the herd, a mother to some of our other goats, and quite the character. Many visitors will remember her as our notorious feed-bag thief! She never missed an opportunity to grab your bag if you held it within reach.
Her long beard, beautiful golden eyes, and loving disposition made her a favorite to everyone who met her.

We also lost Thor, our new herd sire. He was being kept in a separate pasture until October 20, when he was supposed to join our herd in our plan for spring babies. We had high hopes for him and the future generations he would bring to Hill Top.

Living in the Blue Ridge Mountains means sharing this beautiful place with wildlife. We understand that bears are part of that world, even when the realities of farm life are difficult.

To everyone who has visited our goats, fed them, and enjoyed their antics over the years, we wanted to share this news with you. Some if you met Thor when he arrived here as a newly weaned youngster and had the awesome opportunity to see him “faint”. He was a Tennessee Fainting Goat and had gorgeous blue eyes. If you have pictures of Thor or Dicey or if you have a story to tell about them, please share. **e

Rest easy, Dicey and Thor. You were loved. ❤️🐐

10/16/2026

🐻🍯 SALVAJE — A Mead with a Mission!

We bottled a fresh batch of Salvaje this week!

Salvaje is our delicious off-dry traditional mead, handcrafted from wildflower honey. But there’s a special story behind every bottle!

Meet Billie Jean, the beautiful Andean bear pictured on our label. Billie Jean called the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C., home.

Years ago, our friend Sara, who was one of Billie Jean’s keepers at the National Zoo, asked if Hill Top would help support Andean bear conservation. We loved the idea, and Salvaje was born!

Ever since, every time we bottle Salvaje, we make a donation to SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) to help protect Andean bears and their future in the wild. We’re proud to display the SAFE logo right on our label.

Andean bears, also known as spectacled bears, are the only bear species native to South America. Their survival matters, and we’re delighted to do our small part to help.

🐝 Good mead. A great cause. One very special bear. ❤️

Come enjoy a glass of Salvaje and raise a toast to Billie Jean and her wild relatives!

Hill Top W**ery & Meadery
Authentic Honey Meads

**e

10/15/2026

https://nelsonchamber.org/ Hello Friends of Hill Top! We have been nominated for favorite Nelson County W**ery in the Best of Nelson 2026 contest by the Nelson Chamber of Commerce. If you love Hill Top, we would really appreciate it if you would take time to go to the Nelson County Chamber website and vote!

10/10/2026

Hey Ya’ll! You can see our smiling faces in two locations this weekend! Some of us will be pouring our w**es and meads at the 34th Annual Virginia W**e and Garlic Festival and of course some of us will be on the hill pouring at our place. At the w**ery, we’ve got cover no matter the weather. The Garlic Festival is always a good time, no matter the weather. We hope to see you. We have lots of choices at both locations . At the festival, make your purchases early and we can hold your w**e until you are ready to leave. This way you get what you want. **e

10/06/2026

🍷🍯 It’s Virginia W**e Month — and there’s a lot happening at Hill Top!

Right now we have 28 w**es and meads in stock, but a couple of favorites are getting VERY low:

🍈 Forager Pawpaw Mead
🍁 Frontier Reserve Maple Mead

When they’re gone, they’re gone! If you’re planning a visit soon and there’s something you really want, give us a call and we’ll reserve it for you.

🧄 Going to the Virginia W**e & Garlic Festival this weekend?
We’ll gladly bring your order with us for you to pick up at the festival! We won’t be bringing or pouring everything we have here at the w**ery, so if there’s a favorite you want, let us know before Friday and we’ll pack it for you.

🎃 And because it’s October…

🧛 Our spooky vampire glasses are here while supplies last
🍷 Watch for special flights throughout Virginia W**e Month
🍯 Plenty of fruit w**es and authentic honey meads to explore

Want a quieter, more relaxed visit? Come see us during the week. Prefer a lively weekend? We’ll have plenty of folks here ready to take great care of you while part of our crew is at the Garlic Festival.

We’re open 7 days a week, 11–5, and we would absolutely love to see you here at Hill Top. ❤️

Come find a new favorite — or stock up on an old one before it disappears!

Hill Top W**ery & Meadery
True to the Fruit W**es • Authentic Honey Meads. **e

10/03/2026

Rainy day? We’ve got you covered! ☔️🍷

Celebrate Virginia W**e Month with cozy indoor or covered outdoor seating, your favorite meads and fruit w**es, and this year’s Halloween collector glass while supplies last! 🎃

Come spend a cozy day at Hill Top W**ery & Meadery! **e