In The Spirit Archive

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 […]

It’s that time of year again when restaurants and wine stores see an uptick in their sales of sparkling wine and for good reason as well, since it has become the most festive style of wine worldwide. That is, for the last several centuries at least, since the origins of sparkling wine go back to […]

With the Fall Equinox behind us, it now means that the daylight hours shorten and the nights get longer. As the temperature drops, I’m sure you will find yourself cozying up by a warm fire with a glass of wine pretty quickly. What wine could compliment such a perfect ambiance with family and friends and […]

Right about now, as we start to experience a little cooler temperatures at night and that touch of crisp air that tells us Autumn is marching steadily toward us, in vineyards all across the northern hemisphere, vineyard hands are working feverishly collecting bunches of grapes off the vines under the dutiful watch and organization of […]

Some people will live vicariously through others, even it’s a schlep like me.  For as long as I’ve loved wine and worked with it in our industry, the most common refrain I’ve heard is “Drinking wine for a living!—that must be tough…” in some form or another.  I certainly won’t deny it…YES, sipping wine almost […]

Far be it from me to contradict Nancy Sinatra, but my “summer wine” is not necessarily made from strawberries, cherries and an angel’s kiss in spring….although you’d probably have to have more than a few gray hairs on your head to get the reference, I suppose. And this is not to bash Arbor Mist at […]

In acknowledgement of the theme for this month’s publication, I wanted to say a few words about enjoying great wines while camping during these warm summer months and beyond. Specifically, I am thinking about camping and/or traveling in an RV with the family….possibly on a family vacation to a favorite annual destination, or even traveling […]