(photo: Judie Barta, the Queen Bee.)
After a heartbreaking 2013, Meadow Vista Honey Wine’s Queen Bee Judie Barta was ready to give up her dream. Searching for investors was leading her nowhere and until one cold rainy day introduced her to her new partner which quickly led to the reopening of her honey winery and new artisan farm concept!!
Now with five beautiful acres and a tasting room/winery in the agricultural rich South-East Kelowna neighbourhood of Kelowna, the Queen Bee is thriving. In addition to creating her award-winning honey wines, (recently at the World Wine Championships she won 91 points-Gold for their honey wine Ostara and 90 points-Gold for Cloud Horse, their traditional style honey wine, Bliss their sparkling cherry honey wine won Sliver-89 points and “Best Buy, Mabon won Silver with 89 points) Barta is growing beautiful berries. Her farm includes organic blackberries, strawberries, as well as a spring crop of much-needed local organic asparagus. Of course, they also make honey!
Judie’s dream to combine wellness with food and wine is finally becoming a reality. A trained massage therapist and wellness expert, Judie still maintains a small clientele on the new farm as well as adding yoga classes.
The culinary aspect of the farm is also evolving and is now catering events on the property. From an educational aspect, the farm represents a learning centre for promoting the survival of the honeybee and sharing the many wonderful healing properties of honey. Judie explains with a huge smile, “the farm has so much to offer.” Welcome back Queen Bee.
~ Jennifer Schell