2018-04

Story and photography by Meredith Bernard Blazing new trails, or in some cases brewing them, can be a long process, but you’d be hard pressed to find anyone who has made better progress than Ethan and Julie Brown. When Julie’s parents Marvin and Caren Jefferson harvested their first grapes from their Pittsylvania County vineyard in 2011 with the understanding they ...

By Norwood Walker A short but steep gravel driveway off of Anderson Mill Road just a few miles outside of Chatham, Virginia leads not just to a unique wine tasting experience but a step back into yesterday.  Tomahawk Winery is housed in an old water-powered grist mill built by Confederate veteran James Anderson on the Tomahawk Creek in 1888.  The ...

Couple Turns Historic Homeplace into South-Central Virginia Destination! By Phyliss Boatwright Enchanting is the best way to describe a trip to Springfield Distillery in Halifax, Virginia. Welcoming, warm and passionate are adjectives that best describe Springfield owners James and Kelly Gordon. The drive to Springfield from Roxboro offers miles of rolling, tree-covered hills and beautiful, peaceful views of tobacco fields ...

So Much in Common Story by Norwood Walker A brewery and a winery are not often thought to share many things in common.  After all, wine tasters and beer guzzlers have different tastes and quite frankly different lifestyles, and wine and beer are made from completely different ingredients.  So, the stereotypes go. Among the things that San Soucy and Staunton ...

By Phyliss Boatwright In 2005, Kevin and Kimberly Moore followed their dreams and turned a former family tobacco farm into vineyards and a breathtakingly beautiful winery. Today it is one of the largest in North Carolina and it is right here in Person County. The building, a warm, welcoming blend of old English, Italian and western lodge styles, offers a ...

By Norwood Walker Location, location, location may be the mantra of real estate, but it also can apply to wineries and vineyards.  Such is the case with Hunting Creek Vineyards located in the beautiful rolling hills of piedmont Virginia.  A bit off the beaten track at 2000 Addie Williams Trail, Clover, it is definitely worth a visit and a tasting ...

By Norwood Walker The driveway at 568 Rigney Circle just outside of Chatham, Virginia leads down a gentle sloping incline with beautiful rows of grape vines on its left.  Awaiting at the bottom of this incline is a log cabin with a wraparound porch that beckons to come sit and stay a while.  Taste the wine that is obviously grown ...

Grove Winery Wins Awards By Max Lloyd Earlier this year, Grove Winery received an email with the results of a review from Tastings, the international beverage review publication run by the Beverage Testing Institute in Chicago. The Grove Ensemble wine had received a very high 93-point rating. This Grove wine, a high-end Bordeaux/Meritage blend made from 71% Cabernet Franc, 18% Cabernet ...

By Norwood Walker Nathalie is a small unincorporated community about 15 miles north of South Boston in Halifax County, Virginia.  This small community has a population of just over 180 according to the last census, but it attracts its share of visitors.  One of the main draws is the Bright Meadow Farms. As their website proclaims “Bright Meadows Farm is ...

Black Creek Brewery & Heirloom Restaurant Get into the Spirit The Heirloom Restaurant and Black Creek Brewery are located side-by-side on Depot Street in Uptown Roxboro. Therefore, it is only fitting that they get together for the holidays to bring interesting fair to their patrons. Kyle Wilkerson, the executive chef and co-owner worked with Mike Lagaly at Black Creek Brewery ...