In The Spirit Archive

When you find yourself spending more time outside and floating around a pool, you know summer is here in Greenbrier Valley.  When you go to relax poolside the easiest thing to do grab is some basic domestic beer.  These inexpensive beers can be satisfying on a hot summer day, yet leave much to be desired […]

With the approach of Mother’s Day in May, I often think about wines my Mom would like and because my mother is pretty much like the typical American mom when it comes to drinking wine, I like to think about wines our moms would collectively like to drink. You see, my mother typically doesn’t like […]

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 […]