Wine bar
Unclaimed profileNegus Winery
Alexandria, VA · $$$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
The first honey wine tasting room, and by its own account the first U.S. Tasting room specializing in honey wine traditions. The core is Ethiopian-style tej in semi-sweet and semi-dry, alongside Virginia grape wines under the Melody label: Red Blend, White Blend, and Rosé. Curated flights pair honey wine and select Virginia grape wines with light bites. Bottles run 750 ml, and a three-tier wine club spans $38 to $55 per month with escalating discounts.
- What should I order?
- Start with the Mama's Honey Wine Tej flights to compare the semi-sweet and semi-dry side by side, then move to the Melody White Blend or Melody Rosé. A $40 tasting covers multiple wines.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Drinkers curious about Ethiopian tej and honey wine generally, and those who want a Virginia grape-wine flight alongside it. The semi-dry tej suits palates that prefer less sweetness; the semi-sweet is the more traditional expression.
- When should I go?
- For a seated tasting and flight comparison. The format suits a shared flight rather than a quick stop.
- What should I expect to spend?
- A tasting runs about $40. Bottles are 750 ml. Wine club memberships are $38/month for 2 bottles plus 15% off, $45/month for 3 bottles plus 18% off, and $55/month for 4 bottles plus 20% off.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- Ethiopian-style tej made in semi-sweet and semi-dry, poured alongside Virginia grape wines under one roof. The venue positions itself as the first honey wine tasting room and the first U.S. Tasting room specializing in honey wine traditions.
Beverage categories
We only score what a venue sets out to do. Categories a venue doesn't attempt are left unscored rather than penalized.
Wine
Ethiopian-style tej in semi-sweet and semi-dry anchors the list, joined by Virginia grape wines: Melody Red Blend, White Blend, and Rosé, all 750 ml. Curated flights pair honey wine and select grape wines with light bites, and a three-tier club adds monthly bottle allocations with 15–20% discounts.
Menu strengths
- — Honey wine is the clear center: tej in semi-sweet and semi-dry at 12% ABV, with reviewers describing it as a must-try.
- — Curated flights pair honey wine and select Virginia grape wines with light bites, giving a structured way to compare both sides of the list.
- — A three-tier club—Silver, Gold, Platinum—offsets bottle cost with 15–20% discounts.
Standout selections
- — Mama's Honey Wine Tej Semi-Sweet: traditional Ethiopian-style honey wine, 12% ABV, 750 ml.
- — Mama's Honey Wine Tej Semi-Dry: the drier tej expression, 12% ABV, 750 ml.
- — Melody White Blend: Virginia grape wine, 12.4% ABV, 750 ml.
Pricing: Tasting about $40; club tiers $38–$55/month
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