Sweet success for Sutherland beekeeper with honey vinegar win
A Talmine-based member of Olrig and District Beekeepers won the Blue Ribbon award for the most outstanding exhibit at the Scottish National Honey Show (SNHS) in Kinross for his honey vinegar.
That the most outstanding exhibit was not from the honey or wax classes at the show made the win even more notable for Winfried Leopoldt and highlights how highly the judging panel rated his honey vinegar.
As well as the Blue Ribbon, Winfried was presented with the Glasgow Beekeepers' Association (BKA) Silver Trophy for the winner of the ‘Grand Prix’ for most outstanding exhibit at the SNHS.
Winfried has been a long-time beekeeper who kept bees on and off as his work allowed him.
He learned his trade with the Twickenham BKA and completed his basic beekeeping exam in 1997. He was a member of the Aberdeen BKA before giving up beekeeping for some time due to travel commitments.
Retirement brought him to Talmine in Sutherland, his wife’s family home. He started keeping bees again and is indebted to the ODBKA and its members for its support and encouragement.
After picking up his trophy, Winfried said: "I am delighted to have done well in Kinross, but never expected to win a trophy for the best exhibit in the show.”