In The Spirit Archive

In Greenbrier Valley, April is the time when we all begin to start thinking with our sweet tooth and head into downtown Lewisburg for the annual Chocolate Festival (see page 10!).  Just when you thought you’ve had your fill on all things chocolate and start to head for home, make sure you take a little […]

Spring is upon us and it’s harvest time!…..And you thought there was only one time each year to make wine from fresh grapes; in the Fall. But, surprise, there is another whole world south of the Equator. As it turns out, the four seasons in the Southern Hemisphere are shifted six months compared to the […]

With the holidays past us and everyone enjoying our happy new years full of goals and hopes for the coming year, we also tend to look back on the last year and see if we can figure out any trends that will continue or burgeon in the new year. This is true in our personal […]

With the approach of Thanksgiving and the holidays just around the corner, we start to think about what beverages we’d like to see gracing our tables with those festive meals. As I have just returned from a week-long odyssey through Italy earlier this month, it got me thinking about how great Italian wines are in […]

With TOOT (Taste of our Town) upon us already, as the year 2017 is vanishing before our eyes, it occurred to me that when we discuss the “taste” of a wine, or any beverage really, there is a different meaning for every individual taster! However, while there may be wildly differing opinions of what “tastes” […]

At this point, summer is in full swing. The grass is definitely green and the lawn chairs are spread out in the backyard.  We have already spent some time hanging up strings of lights and fun decorations outside. To some lucky ones, there might even be a pool involved and the barbeque has cooked anything […]

The American wine drinker has for some time now had a Love/Hate relationship with Chardonnay. On the one hand, it was our “gateway drug” to what used to be considered “exotic” grape varietals from Europe. In fact, it was our first love affair with a white French grape that made it easier for us to […]

I love things that sparkle. I love jewels and glitter and the stars in the sky. Most of all, I love the sensation of a bubbly beverage that tickles my senses. They are refreshing and fun. Sparkling wines or bubbles…as they are so affectionately called…are the epitome of fortune and success. Clinking flutes full of […]

With the kind of winter we had, it feels like spring began back in January. Nevertheless, it is that time of year now when trees are starting to bud and flowers are starting to bloom and very soon…perhaps too soon!…summer will be in full swing. In the past, we have written about the spring time […]

The New Year brings an array of warm feelings filled with fresh starts and personal aspirations. Spend some of that refreshing burst of energy on exploring different grape varietals with friends and family.  Let’s take a look at some wines that are great for food-pairing and will make you look like a professional host! When […]