The holidays are a wonderful time to celebrate with friends and family and enjoy favorite foods, special desserts, and great memories.
This year, we suggest you make seasonal gift-giving easy with Biltmore wines. From refreshing blends and food-friendly favorites to elegant sparkling wines, you’re sure to find a perfect pairing for everyone on your list.
A “century” of taste and style
Enjoy the process of stocking and storing Biltmore wines
Our Biltmore Century Sweet Red Wine and Century Sweet White Wine were developed to honor Biltmore’s centennial celebration. These approachable red and white blends are easy-to-drink and complement a wide variety of dishes, and the beautifully etched bottles make a special keepsake of your Biltmore experience—or provide inspiration for another visit!
Add sparkle to the season
Our handcrafted Biltmore bubbles make any occasion more special
“Don’t just save them for a special toast—make any occasion a celebration when you uncork the Biltmore bubbles!” said Sharon.
We recommend keeping a few bottles on hand in case unexpected guests drop by during the holidays, or taking our festive sparkling wines with you as a thoughtful hostess gift.
The perfect Christmas present
2019 Christmas at Biltmore Red and White Wine labels
There’s no better way to commemorate the holidays than with our Christmas at Biltmore Wine, available in red and white styles! The label features new original artwork each year that captures the magic of Christmas at Biltmore, making the wine an easy-to-give annual gift. We enjoy pairing these slightly sweeter wines with classic seasonal desserts like pumpkin pie and sugar cookies.
An elegant gift
The Hunt Red Blend Sonoma County
Inspired by the classic sporting life the Vanderbilts and their guests enjoyed at Biltmore, The Huntis a truly exceptional wine. Aged for about 18 months in French and American oak barrels, this robust, Bordeaux-style red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot is delicious by the glass and pairs well with many of the rich flavors of the holiday season.
The Hunt’s label—inspired by the strong lines of an extraordinary August Francotte shotgun in Biltmore’s original collection—makes this wine a truly remarkable gift for wine enthusiasts and those who enjoy the outdoors.
Join the club!
Find inspiration for virtual gift giving and entertaining with our 2020 Holiday Wine Guide
Want to give a gift that keeps on giving year-round? Consider providing someone special with a membership to our Vanderbilt Wine Club! Members receive a shipment of three handcrafted Biltmore wines each quarter, carefully selected to delight wine enthusiasts.
In addition, members will enjoy wine notes and special recipes to complement each shipment. Membership includes exclusive access to new and limited releases, discounts on wines, flat-rate shipping, and invitations to join us for events throughout the year.
The task list is long in Stacey Weir’s weekly planner this time of year as she and her crew begin preparing Biltmore’s historic gardens for fall.
As Historic Gardens Manager, Stacey and her team must focus on putting the gardens to bed after the long, lush days of summer are done.
Preparations for fall begin during late summer in Biltmore’s historic gardens
“The landscape has delighted our guests all season with a showy tribute to Frederick Law Olmsted’s original landscape scheme,” said Stacey, “but now it’s time to be preparing Biltmore’s historic gardens for fall.”
The ever-changing gardens require meticulous note-taking and calendar-minding to stay on track for the next season… and the next and the next.
It’s challenging for Stacey to summarize what her team does to get the gardens ready for fall and winter, but she shares some of the main tasks below–and notes that you can follow the Biltmore team’s lead in your own garden at home.
Fall tasks at hand
“One of our first tasks for preparing Biltmore’s historic gardens for fall begins just after Labor Day,” Stacey said. “Our crews will be busy pulling all of the tropical plants that have been on display during warmer weather.”
After Labor Day, tropical plants will be returned to the Conservatory
That means the massive terra cotta planters filled with elephant ears that line the front of Biltmore House and other areas are being emptied and stored for next summer.
“Some crew members will suit up in waders to work in the Italian Garden pools where tropical lilies and enormous Victorian lily pads are just finishing their blooming season,” said Stacey. “The crew will weed out the remains and clean the ponds.”
A gardener dons waders to work in the Italian Garden pools
In addition, Stacey notes that height pruning in the floral pattern beds and borders of the Walled Garden is a priority in order to keep leaf drop manageable as the winds pick up with seasonal change. Perennials are cut back to ensure good growth for spring.
“We’ll lift the dahlia bulbs out of the ground in the Walled Garden’s Victorian border to allow the soil to dry naturally,” Stacey said. “The bulbs will be placed in a cool dry place to store over winter to be replanted in the spring.”
Mum’s the word in the Walled Garden
Vibrant mums are a sure sign of fall in the Walled Garden.
Biltmore’s signature fall color flower display of mums will also be planted in the Walled Garden pattern beds.
The mums will begin showing glorious color in late September and early October, with peak bloom around the second or third week of October.
“We usually plan a warm-toned color scheme for fall, with shades of orange, golden yellow, and deep reds and purples,” noted Stacey.
Fall leaves become a part of Biltmore soil
The beautiful fall colors of the Azalea Garden. Credit: The Biltmore Company
As temperatures cool and the leaves begin to change color, just like at your house, there’s leaf management to consider. The horticulture crew embarks on several leaf clean-ups throughout the season to minimize final clean-up at the end of the season.
Crews collect the leaves and use them for compost, or they put the leaves in to a tub grinder with woody debris and grind everything to use for soil.
Any leftovers are used in a compost that made with herbaceous debris, which is broadcast in the field crops and food plots throughout estate property.
Christmas and winter work
Poinsettias being grown in the production house at the Conservatory
A portion of the poinsettias used during our annual Christmas at Biltmore displays are grown in the production house near the Conservatory.
Planted in July, the poinsettias begin to pop up in early fall. A selection of the full-grown plants will be placed in Biltmore House, while the others will decorate the Conservatory.
In early October, the Conservatory team will also plant tulip bulbs in pots in order to have tulip bloom and color “under glass” by Valentine’s Day in mid-February.
Looking ahead to Biltmore Blooms
Tulips are a sure sign of spring at Biltmore
And then, there are the tulips which herald the start of our springtime Biltmore Blooms celebration.
To enjoy vivid blooms in April, the bulbs must be planted in November just before Thanksgiving. Actual planting days are based on temperatures to avoid planting when the ground is frozen.
“Each fall, our crews plant thousands upon thousands of bulbs including tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths in the Walled Garden and across the estate. When spring arrives, the total number of blooms is breathtaking!” said Stacey.
The matrix
A hand-drawn sketch shows details of a planting in the Conservatory
To keep track of every plant–from seed to taking them out of the production house to putting them in the ground–all of these timetables and tasks are organized on paper.
The plans include a “priority matrix” that the gardeners have developed through the years to determine which tasks to focus on first depending on factors such as guest-facing locations and type of plant.
Otherwise, “It’s all a jumbled mess in your head,” Stacey said, She’s quick to add that when you’re working in the gardens season after season, the memory naturally retains the details.
Gardeners are constantly thinking several steps ahead of the task at hand. “In horticulture, everything effects the next thing,” said Stacey. “Perennial-wise you have to make allowances now to have success in the spring. Everything has the continual life span of birth and rebirth almost.”
Plan your fall getaway today
Plan your spectacular fall getaway to Biltmore today!
From colorful leaves to crisp days and cool nights, there’s no better time to enjoy a visit to Biltmore than during the fall season. Plan your getaway today.
Downton Abbey: The Exhibition ended September 7, 2020. Please enjoy this archived content.
In honor of hosting Downton Abbey: The Exhibition through September 7, 2020, we thought it would be fascinating to look at Downton Abbey—and Biltmore’s own history—through the lens of a wine bottle.
A thoughtful collector
We know that George Vanderbilt was a thoughtful wine collector in his own right, and he also relied upon the services of professional wine purveyor Alexander Morten who was well-known for his excellent taste and recommendations.
To learn more about the process of procuring and preparing wines in the late 19th century, we turned to Jeff Plack, business development manager for Biltmore Wines and a wine aficionado in general, to “pour out” what he knows about the subject.
March 12, 1913: list of wines in Biltmore’s cellar
The business of wine
“I love the fact that in the new Downton Abbey feature film–and in many episodes of the six-season PBS Masterpiece series—the characters were sipping wine at some point,” said Jeff. “Wine consumption was a direct measure of one’s wealth in that era and it was not unusual for large estates to have thousands of bottles in their cellars. At that time, the wines were mostly French.”
Jeff explains that Mr. Carson, the Crawley family’s beloved butler in the series, would have been largely responsible for the wines served at Downton Abbey.
“The family might have taken an active interest in wine,” Jeff said, “but the butler was generally the person who oversaw the supply and prepared the wines for the dinner table.
Decanting wines
This formal place setting on the Banquet Hall table features six pieces of crystal, including a champagne coupe and a cordial glass for port or sherry
In
one episode of the series, Carson is seen decanting wine using
an interesting contraption.
“It’s appropriately called a decanting machine or cradle,” said Jeff. “The cradle holds the wine as someone turns a crank which slowly pours the wine out of the bottle.”
In
the scene, Carson is using a lighted candle behind the bottle to help him see
any sediment in the wine. This technique, along with a piece of muslin over the
decanter, would help filter out impurities.
(Note: the featured image for this blog shows the decanting cradle in Mr. Carson’s pantry as part of Downton Abbey: The Exhibition currently hosted at Biltmore.)
The circle of wine
For
wealthy households like the one depicted in Downton Abbey, the
variety of wines consumed at dinner made a circle of sorts.
A delicate silver and glass wine decanter from the Biltmore collection
“Evenings would usually begin with port or sherry and possibly a glass of champagne as an apéritif,” said Jeff. “Each subsequent course of the dinner would be paired with a different wine.”
Our Mariporta is a port-style dessert wine reminiscent of the ones the Vanderbilts might have enjoyed
According
to Jeff, wine pairings were different than the ones we make today.
A
common practice of the era was to serve a white Burgundy (generally
a Chardonnay) with the first course and then a red Bordeaux with
the main meal.
“It was less about the science of which wines ‘go with’ or complement which foods, and more about wines that they preferred,” Jeff said. “For dessert, they would move back to something like port, similar to our Mariporta Red Dessert Wine, and then end with sparkling wine again; a happy circle of wine life.”
Our handcrafted Biltmore bubbles make any occasion more special
With modern winemaking techniques, we no longer need to use decanting machines and filters, and though we enjoy pairing wines based on qualities such as acidity and tannins, we also love complementing favorite flavors with wines we enjoy.
Savor Biltmore Wines
Join us at the Winery for complimentary tastings of our award-winning wines. You can purchase Biltmore wines at most estate shops or online. In addition, experience Downton Abbey: The Exhibition hosted in two locations on estate grounds, November 8, 2019–April 7, 2020.
How do we select the finest fruit for Biltmore wines? Here’s an overview of the process, from grape to glass!
Sourcing fine North Carolina vintages
In his book Lady On The Hill, George Vanderbilt‘s grandson William A.V. Cecil noted that “Asheville was about the same latitude as Gibraltar in the Mediterranean, and with an altitude between 2,100 and 2,500 feet, the fields of the estate would enjoy warm days and cool nights in the summer.”
While the climate of Western North Carolina is not nearly as predictable as that of the Mediterranean or other major grape-growing regions, when conditions are right, the fruit produced in our estate vineyards is exceptional and earns the Biltmore Reserve label for our finest North Carolina vintages.
To ensure we can meet the growing demand for Biltmore wines, however, we also look to our local vineyard partners in Polk County—a lower-elevation region just south of Asheville that experiences slightly warmer temperatures with less danger of late season frost damage.
Guests enjoying a visit to Biltmore’s vineyards on the west side of the estate
Beyond Biltmore
We also look to our west coast partners for the quality and consistency of grapes needed to handcraft our award-winning wines. Several times each year, Biltmore winemaker Sharon Fenchak schedules extended visits to California to meet with our growing partners and select outstanding vintages for Biltmore wines.
“Some of the finest American wine grapes come from the vineyards of coastal California,” Sharon said. “The terroir—the different combinations of weather and soil in each hill and valley—translate into the distinctive flavors and qualities that characterize the wines of that region.”
View of one of our partner vineyards in California
California’s Northern Coast
This large wine grape-growing region is located north of San Francisco, with a maritime climate that is affected by cool fogs and breezes from the Pacific Ocean. Some of California’s best-known American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), including Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Lake County, Napa, and Russian River Valley, are located here.
The Hunt label features the finely wrought engraving on an August Francotte shotgun in Biltmore’s original collection
California’s Central Coast
Stretching from San Francisco Bay south to Santa Barbara County, this region offers a warmer climate that still benefits from the cooling influences of the Pacific Ocean. We partner with vineyards from such prestigious AVAs as Arroyo Seco, Cienega Valley, Monterey, and Paso Robles.
“Some of the more unusual varietals we choose from partner vineyards here include Barbera, Marsanne, Mourvedre, Rousanne, and Tempranillo,” Sharon noted.
Washington
A wide range of grapes are now being
grown in the fertile valleys of Washington, making the state an
important producer of outstanding wine varietals. Vineyards are found
primarily in the eastern half of the state that benefits from a dryer
shrub-steppe ecosystem and the rain shadow of the Cascade Range.
The state experiences long hours of daylight—approximately two more
hours per day during the growing season than California—and milder, more
consistent temperatures.
“We are excited to be working with some great partner vineyards in
Washington,” said Sharon. “We’re selecting a lot of excellent grapes
for our American Series and Limited Release Series wines.”
Handcrafting our award-winning wines
While Sharon and her team handcraft
the majority of our wines from start to finish at Biltmore’s Winery in
Asheville, North Carolina, our Vanderbilt Reserve wines and Antler Hill wines
are created in the particular region where they were grown. This
painstaking process is overseen—from selecting the vintage and
expressing the varietal character to aging the wine—by Sharon during her
visits to California.
“All our wines represent the Vanderbilt family’s legacy of gracious hospitality on which Biltmore was founded,” Sharon said, “and as Biltmore’s winemaker, I am committed to handcrafting our wines with the philosophy of keeping each one true to varietal character and consistent from vintage to vintage. Whether I’m at work in North Carolina or California or Washington, I’m focused on creating wines that reflect the quality of this family-owned estate and Winery.”
Just a few of the more than 50 Biltmore wine selections available at the estate or online
From brilliant bromeliads to elegant orchids, painting with plants in Biltmore’s Conservatory is how Todd Roy, Conservatory Horticulturist, describes his work.
A breathtaking display of bromeliads and orchids in the Conservatory
Caring for Biltmore’s Plants
Todd Roy checks plantings behind the Conservatory
Caring for this glorious garden under glass—filled with tropical treasures from around the world—is no easy task, but Todd enjoys his work in such exotic surroundings.
“It takes a lot of effort to keep the Conservatory looking so lush and beautiful,” said Todd. “All these plant species have different moisture needs, so we spend the first several hours of each day watering everything by hand—it helps us keep a close eye on the thousands of plants in our care.”
Tropical Plant Treasures
Pink anthurium thrive in the Conservatory
Todd has been part of Biltmore’s Conservatory staff for the more than four years. Prior to joining the estate, he worked as a horticulturalist for a historic estate in southwest Florida, which gave him an appreciation for tropical plantings.
“I focus on adding to the diversity of what we offer in the Conservatory,” Todd said. “We have some palms that are very old, and some Cycads that date back to the time of the Vanderbilts, but we’re always adding new things for guests to discover and enjoy.”
Painting with Plants
Todd incorporates colorful foliage into his designs
Along with his horticultural skills, Todd has a background in fine art, including painting and photography. His work in the Conservatory gives him a living canvas for expressing his creativity.
A hand-drawn sketch shows details of a planting in the Conservatory
“From flowers to foliage, there are so many colors and textures to work with that it really is like ‘painting with plants’. My designs often begin with the color and pattern of foliage and how I can best create multi-level displays that intrigue our guests and engage their imagination,” said Todd.
A special project in 2019
In 2019, Biltmore Gardens Railway included this replica of the Bass Pond spillway in the Conservatory
In addition to his regular responsibilities, Todd was instrumental in preparing the Conservatory to host Biltmore Gardens Railway in 2019.
The charming botanical model train display featured replicas of estate landmarks, handcrafted in meticulous detail from such all-natural elements as leaves, bark, and twigs.
“Once the structures and the trains were installed, we had to create displays around them that both complemented the exhibition and showcased the Conservatory itself as one of Biltmore’s historic gardens,” Todd said. “It was an enormous project, but our guests really enjoyed it!”
Biltmore Gardens Railway returns in 2020
Biltmore Gardens Railway in Antler Hill Village
Biltmore Gardens Railway returns to Biltmore this summer; you can enjoy it in Antler Hill Village from July 7 through September 7, 2020.
This year, the botanical model train display will showcase iconic American railway stations, some of which have ties to the Vanderbilt family.
Featured blog image: Todd Roy displays a brilliantly-colored bromeliad in Biltmore’s Conservatory
Summer entertaining is as easy as chill, grill, and thrill!
Summer entertaining with the Vanderbilts
Enjoy warm weather sipping with friends and family!
At Biltmore, summer entertaining was a favorite pastime for the Vanderbilts and their guests.
From birthday parties in the Rose Garden to picnics on the grassy slopes of Mt. Pisgah, warm weather offered the perfect excuse to leave formal dining behind and enjoy a gathering in the great outdoors.
Chill, Grill, and Thrill
Inspired by their example, here are three easy “chill, grill, and thrill” steps to simplify your summer entertaining whether you’re in the kitchen, on the porch, by the pool—or wherever your plans take you.
Chill out with a hearty red wine like our Biltmore Estate Limited Release Malbec and round out the easy meal with a green salad
1) CHILL
First, let’s start with an easy recipe for Grilled Skirt Steak with Tomatillo Salsa created by our Biltmore chefs to take advantage of summer’s bumper crop of tomatillos and heirloom tomatoes.
10 fresh tomatillos, husks removed and tomatillos quartered 8 cloves fresh garlic 3 green onions, roughly chopped 1 large shallot, peeled and roughly chopped 1 bunch fresh cilantro with stems and leaves 1 bunch parsley with stems and leaves 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves 3 tablespoons salt 1 tablespoon ground black pepper 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional; use to taste) 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Optional for serving: heirloom tomatoes, quartered; olive oil; fresh lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste
Method The salsa doubles as a marinade for the steak, so prepare it first by combining tomatillos, garlic, onions, shallot, herbs, seasonings, and olive oil in a blender and blending until smooth. Reserve 1/2 cup of the tomatillo salsa for garnish.
Place steak and marinade in a large zip-top bag and allow to marinate for 1–3 hours in the refrigerator.
Tips for chilling
While chilling the meat, select your favorite wine and chill about 20 minutes prior to serving with the meal.
Grill marinated steaks on medium-high heat for 3–5 minutes on each side for medium-rare. When done to your liking, remove steak from the grill and put it on a clean cutting board or platter to rest while you finish the rest of your preparations.
Tips for grilling
While the grill heats, prepare a green salad to accompany the meal.
After the steak is done, split and toast a couple of baguettes on the still-hot grill to serve with the salad (and soak up those heirloom tomato juices).
3) THRILL
Enjoy summer sipping and entertaining outdoors with your favorite Biltmore wines
Slice the steak and top with reserved salsa.
Dress quartered heirloom tomatoes with olive oil, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Arrange around the steak.
Tips for thrilling
Bring the entire entrée to the table on the cutting board—no need to transfer to another dish.
Use a chiller filled with a mix of ice and water to keep your wine cool, especially if you’re eating outdoors.
Gather your guests
Cheers to the chill, grill, and thrill of summer entertaining
Enjoy the chill, grill, and thrill of summer entertaining—plus delicious dining—done the easy way!
If you think rosé wines are overly sweet or just a little too pink, think again—rosés are one of the hottest trends among wine aficionados at the moment.
For some enthusiasts, rosé wines might have been seen as a lightweight wine, not worth sipping or sharing.
That view is changing, however, as winemakers take rosé wines to a crisper, dryer level that may surprise you.
Sip our new Biltmore Reserve North Carolina Rosé Wine
“Last year’s harvest yielded enough Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon for us to offer something special—a rosé wine, created from our estate-grown grapes,” said Sharon Fenchak, Biltmore winemaker.
Carefully Crafted North Carolina Wines
According to Sharon, the only wines considered for the Biltmore Reserve wine label are those handcrafted from grapes grown in Biltmore’s own estate vineyard and by our North Carolina partners. By law, wines with an appellation and vintage date must contain at least 75% of grapes from the specific region in the year noted.
Biltmore Reserve North Carolina Rosé 2018 in the Biltmore’s historic Rose Garden
“Our Biltmore Reserve Rosé wine is crafted from select North Carolina Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot grapes,” noted Sharon. “We’ve coaxed beautiful color and subtle complexity from the fruit, creating layered aromas plus flavors of red berries, tropical fruits, and a hint of spice in this wine.” Rosé wines are perfect for outdoor entertaining all summer long.
Savor the Collection of Biltmore Rosé Wines
In addition to our new Biltmore Reserve North Carolina Rosé, we also offer delightful options like Biltmore Estate Zinfandel Blanc de Noir—a vibrant and crisp rosé wine with sweet tropical fruit aromas.
Our Biltmore Estate Dry Rosé is an elegant and refreshing wine with a subtle, fruit-forward bouquet followed by layers of delicate berry flavors.
For a sparkling wine as delicious as it is beautiful, try our coral-hued Biltmore Estate Blanc de Noir wine crafted from Pinot Noir grapes in the traditional méthode champenoise.
Buy Biltmore Rosé Wines Online or at Local Shops
Purchase our rosé wines—or any of our fine Biltmore wines—at the estate’s Winery and shops, online, or through our Retailer Locator.
Looking for expert advice in selecting wines for spring entertaining? Be inspired by our playful pairing of our beautiful gardens with Biltmore white wines!
Nothing could be finer than sipping our Biltmore Reserve North Carolina Rosé with all your favorite flavors!
Outdoor entertaining with Biltmore Wines
From patios to picnics to pool parties, here’s a basic tip on serving and appreciating wine outdoors in spring:
“Just follow the ‘20-Minute Rule’,” said Spencer Knight, Winery Tours Supervisor. “Remove white wine from the refrigerator 20–30 minutes prior to serving so the flavor profile has a chance to expand.”
Put Biltmore wines on your “bucket list” for summer sipping!
According to Spencer, it’s also a good idea to return open wine bottles to a container of ice and water between refills, especially if you’re entertaining outside in warmer weather.
Pairing Biltmore white wines with our historic gardens
Enjoy Biltmore white wines by the glass or bottle this summer
In addition to pairing the distinct “personalities” of Biltmore’s historic gardens and grounds with our refreshing white wines, you’ll also find suggestions for white wine pairings with your favorite seasonal flavors.
Diana at Biltmore
Temple of Diana overlooking Biltmore House
This elegant site overlooking Biltmore House offers a classic setting that calls to mind Biltmore’s outstanding sparkling wines.
Brighten any special occasion with our Pas de Deux Moscato—handcrafted in traditional méthode champenoise to create fine, tiny bubbles.
This aromatic semi-sweet sparkler features the essence of orange blossom and flavors of wild strawberry and lemon. Enjoy with fresh fruit, chocolate covered strawberries, or cheesecake.
Spring in the Shrub Garden
Colorful spring blooms in Biltmore’s Shrub Garden
Savor the beauty of Biltmore’s Shrub Garden—a picture-perfect pairing for Biltmore Estate Riesling as the wine’s fresh and fragrant style is reminiscent of early-blooming spring shrubs.
Beautifully balanced with sweet apricot aromas, light honey flavors, and a crisp finish, Biltmore’s Riesling makes a surprisingly savory companion to spicy Thai dishes as well as fruity desserts.
A classic wine pairing for the Walled Garden
White wisteria blooming in the Walled Garden
Stroll the paths of this grand garden and enjoy the sun-warmed stone walls that enfold you with tradition, much like the classic taste of our Biltmore Estate Chardonnay.
Smooth and balanced with subtle floral aromas, crisp fruit flavors, and hints of oak, Biltmore’s Chardonnay shines when served with favorites including chicken and grilled vegetables, pasta with cream sauce, and even hard-to-pair fare like squash dishes.
Our Rose Garden paired with a special rosé
Biltmore’s historic Rose Garden in front of the Conservatory
Crafted from select North Carolina Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, our pretty-in-pink rosé blossoms with beautiful color, layered aromas, and flavors of red berries, tropical fruits, and a hint of spice. Enjoy with cheese plates and pizza.
Pairing our Spring Release Wine with the Azalea Garden
Azaleas blooming at Biltmore in late spring
The informal feel and bright colors of the Azalea Garden make it a natural match for our fragrant and food-friendly Biltmore Spring Release White Wine.
Handcrafted to capture the essence of the season, this is the perfect wine for warmer weather and picnics. You can also spice up spring by pairing it with zesty sausage and Indian food!
Pair Biltmore wines with all your favorite flavors this spring
Savor Biltmore wines now
Whether you’re stocking up on favorite varietals or trying new ones, you can purchase Biltmore winesonline or close to home through our Retailer Locator.
Discover Biltmore white wines, handcrafted in every flavor profile from crisp and dry to juicy and sweet, plus special tips to help you make a great choice, every time.
You’ll find all our white wines at Biltmore’s Wine Bar
Biltmore Century Sweet White Wine
Century Sweet White Wine pairs perfectly with spicy dishes and desserts
One of our best-selling white whites combines Gewürztraminer, Muscat Canelli, and Riesling grapes in a fragrant, semi-sweet blend that refreshes with a tropical twist.
Biltmore Century Sweet White Wine is a great introduction to several different white grape varietals, and it pairs surprisingly well with many of your favorite foods such as shrimp and Asian and Vietnamese cuisine.
Tip: A good sweetness-to-acidity ratio is the secret to pairing semi-sweet wines with surprisingly spicy foods.
Biltmore Estate Chardonnay
Biltmore wines are perfect for warm weather sipping!
One of the most familiar white varietals is Chardonnay. Generally well-suited to absorb the vanilla and other characteristic flavors imparted by aging in oak barrels, Chardonnays often mature into grand wines with a rich, buttery flavor.
Tip: Malo-lactic fermentation, a process in which the sharper-tasting malic acid in wine is converted into lactic acid, gives wines a more rounded, buttery taste without necessarily aging the wine in oak barrels.
Biltmore Reserve Chardonnay is handcrafted from grapes grown on the estate and by our local partners
This varietal originated in the Loire Valley of France and might be considered a “low maintenance” grape that tends to be hearty and not too temperamental as it grows and ripens.
A slightly sweeter white varietal, our Biltmore Estate Chenin Blanc is a great choice for sipping by itself as well as enjoying with goat cheese, fresh fruit, and Asian cuisine.
Tip: Although delicious on its own as a still or a sparkling wine, because of its fairly consistent acidity, you may find Chenin Blanc added to other white wine blends to improve their taste and character.
Biltmore Estate Pinot Grigio
Savor refreshing Biltmore Estate Pinot Noir with seafood and other rich flavors
Pinot Grigio is generally known as a white varietal, yet the grape itself is actually a dusky, pinkish, blue-gray color. Some wines produced from it may take on a pinkish tone.
It has become one of the most popular white varietals in recent years because it tends to please most palates and pair well with a wide range of foods.
Tip: Try sipping a glass of our Pinot Grigio before a seafood meal—its crisp, refreshing taste helps open and prepare your palate to savor those particular flavors.
Biltmore Estate Riesling
George Vanderbilt’s legacy of gracious hospitality lives on with Biltmore wines handcrafted from grapes grown in the estate’s own vineyard or selected from trusted west coast partners
Originally from Germany, Riesling is a versatile grape that is crisp yet semi-sweet. Our Biltmore Estate Riesling features nicely balanced fruit flavors with acidity and exotic floral notes.
Tip: Love sushi but can’t imagine pairing anything besides sake with it? Try our Biltmore Reserve North Carolina Riesling made from grapes grown here at the estate.
Biltmore Estate Sauvignon Blanc
Pair Biltmore wines with your favorite comfort foods!
Sauvignon Blanc is a dry, crisp wine that suggests elegant pairings plus the ability to stand up to complex layers of taste in rich seafood such as crab, oysters, scallops, lobster, and shellfish.
Tip: Sauvignon Blanc (also known as Fume Blanc) is generally very acidic and is often characterized by hints of grass in the nose and the taste.
Our Biltmore Estate Sauvignon Blanc has been awarded Best of Class in theSan Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and received 88 points & Best Buy from the Beverage Testing Institute.
Biltmore Sparkling Wines
Our handcrafted Biltmore bubbles make any occasion more special
Sparkling wines are traditionally crafted from white grapes such as Chardonnay and Petite Meunier. Biltmore is one of only a handful of wineries that produce both still and sparkling wines, including our finest Biltmore EstateChâteau Reserve Blanc de Blancs North Carolina.
Tip: Pair our bubbly and festive Pas de Deux Moscato with a rustic apple tart—you’ll be amazed at the way the flavors come alive!
To discover George Vanderbilt’s railroad ties, you have only to look at his family history.
Few names have been more closely associated with the rise of the American railroad industry than the Vanderbilts.
Theirs is a remarkable legacy, and one that would ultimately contribute to the development of Biltmore, George Vanderbilt’s magnificent private estate.
Portrait of Cornelius “Commodore” Vanderbilt in the Breakfast Room of Biltmore House
Railroad legacy
The Vanderbilt family’s success began with George Vanderbilt’s grandfather Cornelius “Commodore” Vanderbilt—an entrepreneur from modest beginnings who spent his life building an empire based on shipping and railroad concerns.
His son William Henry Vanderbilt inherited the business after the Commodore’s death in 1877, doubling the family fortune before he passed away nine years later.
Cornelius Vanderbilt II and William Kissam Vanderbilt, William Henry’s two oldest sons, followed in their father’s footsteps to take on management of the family’s holdings, leaving George Vanderbilt—the youngest of William Henry and Maria Louisa Kissam Vanderbilt’s eight children—free to explore his interests in art, literature, and travel.
George Vanderbilt’s vision
Formal photographic portrait of young George Vanderbilt
By the time George Vanderbilt was in his twenties, he had begun planning the creation of a country estate similar to those he’d visited in Europe. After settling on Asheville, North Carolina, as the setting for his new home, he purchased considerable acreage in the area, breaking ground in 1889 for what would become Biltmore.
Vanderbilt party near Biltmore Station; March 1891. Seated (L-R) are Margaret Bromley, Maria Louisa Vanderbilt, Marguerite Shepard, and two unidentified women; unidentified person seated behind Mrs. Vanderbilt. Standing (L-R) are Margaret Shepard, possibly Frederick Vanderbilt, and George Vanderbilt.
While maintaining a permanent address at his family’s Fifth Avenue home, George made frequent trips to Asheville to oversee the project during the six years that Biltmore was under construction.
Swannanoa
In 1891, George Vanderbilt furthered his railroad ties by commissioning a private railcar from the Wagner Palace Car Company of Buffalo, NY. Showing affinity for his new home, George named his railcar Swannanoa after one of the two rivers that flowed through the property.
“Private railcars like Swannanoa were the height of luxury in the golden age of railroad travel, functioning as a home away from home for wealthy travelers” said Darren Poupore, Chief Curator for Biltmore.
For the railcar’s inauguration, Maria Louisa Vanderbilt gave her son an engraved tea service that read “GWV from MLV, November 14, 1891, Swannanoa.”
Teapot from Swannanoa’s tea service
Luxury travel
Swannanoa’s mahogany-paneled parlor was furnished with plush chairs and sofas; staterooms accommodated up to 12 people with comfortable beds and other furnishings.
George often sent Swannanoa to Washington and New York to transport family and friends back to Biltmore. While on board, a cook provided elaborate meals from a well-appointed kitchen and a porter tended to every passenger’s needs.
In addition to those comforts, guests could admire scenic views through plate-glass windows in an observation room in the rear of the car. And just like Biltmore House, Swannanoa’s interiors reflected George’s personality and interests, complete with countless books and etchings from his collections.
View of Biltmore’s Rampe Douce and Vista with construction sheds and train in foreground, c. 1892
Estate construction
As work on Biltmore House continued, a contract between estate architect Richard Morris Hunt and the project’s general contractor stipulated that the massive quantities of Indiana limestone required for construction be shipped by rail directly to the house site.
Working with a civil engineer and consulting with the superintendent of the Richmond & Danville Railroad, landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted laid out a route for a standard gauge rail line connecting the depot in Biltmore Village to the building site.
The area’s uneven terrain—alternating between deep hollows and ridges—presented an added challenge for the rail line. In order to create a gradual incline from the depot to the building site, five trestles with a total length of 1,052 feet were constructed to carry the train across the gullies.
Steam locomotive in front of the Rampe Douce during construction; June 9, 1892
More railroad ties
George Vanderbilt purchased three steam locomotives for use on the estate. The two standard-gauge locomotives operated on the main railroad line to the Esplanade.
The first, Engine No. 75 (later renamed Cherokee) was purchased in 1890, but had to be modified because it lacked the coal and water capacity to make one trip to the Esplanade.
Another standard-gauge Baldwin locomotive, aptly named Biltmore, became the workhorse of the three engines.
Workers with a Baldwin steam engine on the Esplanade, 1892
The third locomotive, named Ronda, was a smaller engine used solely on the narrow-gauge line that ran between the Biltmore Brick and Tile Works and the clay pits on the estate.
After construction ended, the railway was disbanded and the steam engines were sold, but today’s guests can still see remnants of the railroad’s path in a few places around the estate.
Discover Biltmore Gardens Railway
Biltmore Gardens Railway display
From July 1–September 7, 2020, enjoy Biltmore’s historic landscape from a new perspective: accented with model trains and replicas of iconic American train stations during Biltmore Gardens Railway.
On display in Antler Hill Village, this charming exhibition showcases handmade buildings constructed of natural materials like leaves, bark, and twigs and large-scale botanical railways.
Plan now to enjoy this one-of-a-kind, fun-for-all-ages experience that honors George Vanderbilt’s railroad ties.
Featured image: Unidentified passengers gathered on the back of what is thought to be Swannanoa, George Vanderbilt’s private railway car
Portrait of Cornelius “Commodore” Vanderbilt in the Breakfast Room of Biltmore House
Formal photographic portrait of young George Vanderbilt 
Vanderbilt party near Biltmore Station; March 1891. Seated (L-R) are Margaret Bromley, Maria Louisa Vanderbilt, Marguerite Shepard, and two unidentified women; unidentified person seated behind Mrs. Vanderbilt. Standing (L-R) are Margaret Shepard, possibly Frederick Vanderbilt, and George Vanderbilt.
Teapot from Swannanoa’s tea service
View of Biltmore’s Rampe Douce and Vista with construction sheds and train in foreground, c. 1892
Steam locomotive in front of the Rampe Douce during construction; June 9, 1892
Workers with a Baldwin steam engine on the Esplanade, 1892
Biltmore Gardens Railway display