Fashionable Romance: Wedding Gowns in Film

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This wedding dress worn by Emma Thompson in “Sense and Sensibility” will appear in “Fashionable Romance: Wedding Gowns in Film,” an exhibition of film costumes at Biltmore House in 2016. SENSE AND SENSIBILITY ©1995 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Courtesy of Columbia Pictures.

Save the date! Exhibition of wedding gowns in film coming in February 2016.

Just a couple of days before Valentine’s Day next year, brides from an array of eras will fill the rooms of Biltmore House. Not quite time travel, and no, not 250 brides (that would be one per room, you see), but our guests may feel as if they’ve stepped onto a movie set.

“Fashionable Romance: Wedding Gowns in Film,” an exhibition of wedding attire worn in some of the film industry’s most iconic movies, will grace the rooms of George and Edith Vanderbilt’s house beginning Feb. 12, 2016, for a stay through July 4, 2016.

Biltmore has been a location for weddings and romantic getaways since the Vanderbilts married in 1898. Bringing these gowns to such a romantic place seems like a natural match.

Displayed throughout Biltmore House, the award-winning costumes from span 300 years of wedding fashion from films set in the years 1645 to 1935. The exhibition features 19 classic films, including the iconic Jane Austen romances of “Sense and Sensibility,” “Emma,” and “Pride and Prejudice.”

Elaborate floral arrangements will complement each film’s era and costume. Biltmore’s renowned floral design team is already making plans!

The exhibition will continue in the Legacy building in Antler Hill Village with stories of Vanderbilt and Cecil Family weddings, along with the first-ever display of the wedding veil worn by Mary Lee Ryan Cecil and her cousin Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy. Mrs.  Cecil is married to William A.V. Cecil, grandson of George Vanderbilt.

To recognize the artistry of costume design, renowned costumiers Cosprop, Ltd., London will recreate the wedding gown worn by Cornelia Vanderbilt in her marriage to John Cecil in 1924. The gown will be on display.

Admission to “Fashionable Romance: Wedding Gowns in Film” will be included in the general admission ticket price. 

Fine Linens for Fine Living

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Imagine a dinner in the Banquet Hall with George and Edith Vanderbilt. Your place at the 40-foot-long table might be set with as many as twelve pieces of silverware, three plates, plus a charger as well as cup and saucer made by made by British porcelain manufacturers Minton or Spode-Copeland. Baccarat crystal wine, sherry, and water glasses are set within your reach.

Meals at Biltmore were prepared with the utmost care and that attention to detail extended to the whole dining experience. In George Vanderbilt’s papers, Biltmore archivists found record of a purchase of monogrammed linen napkins from a shop in Paris, dated September 24, 1895. Details such as linens played a big role in the Vanderbilts’ spirit of gracious hospitality, but keeping these delicate items clean, crisp, and perfect required efforts almost unimaginable today.

In her 1903 book, Millionaire Households and Their Domestic Economy: Hints for Fine Living, Mary Elizabeth Carter− former housekeeper to another branch of the Vanderbilt family− gave a behind-the-scenes look at how houses such as Biltmore handled the excess laundry created by guests. “If you’re not prepared for large entertainment,” she warned, “bedlam is let loose below stairs and laundresses are driven almost mad.”

In Carter’s view, a well furnished laundry was essential to cope with the demands of a house designed for entertainment:

“The twentieth century laundry is supplied with a diversity of smoothing irons – heavy ones for house linens, medium weight for lingerie and little ones of various and curious shapes for smoothing out sleeves and to reach tiny places in the smallest and most fairy-like of baby clothes. Its ventilation is perfect and the water supply, both hot and cold, is perfect.…A spacious, sunlighted (sic) finely ventilated laundry amply furnished for the work to be accomplished in the best manner for the workers speaks eloquently for the character of the ruling classes.”

In the Main Laundry and Drying Room at Biltmore, you’ll see a variety of pressing devices as well as a barrel washer operated with leather belts and pulleys and an extractor used to spin excess moisture from laundry. The “ironing mangle” was used to iron large, flat articles such as linens and the innovative system of rolling, wooden racks were used for drying, either by air or electric coils.

Carter went on to say of homes such as Biltmore that “None but skilled hands find employment in the laundry of one of these houses. They handle countless expensive and delicate articles of wearing apparel and house linen and must send all back looking as beautiful as if it had just arrived from Paris.”

As you tour Biltmore House keep an eye out for the little details such as the linens, each of which adds to the sense of being in a place where guests receive an extraordinary welcome.

Preserving Generations of Biltmore China and Crystal

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Preserving generations of Biltmore china and crystal is a delicate job.

If you have fine china or crystal handed down in your family, you can imagine the care it takes to clean and preserve all the fragile place settings and glassware in the Biltmore collection!

Generations of fragile china and crystal

Preserving generations of Biltmore china and crystal
Gevevieve Bieniosek opens the china cabinet in the Butler’s Pantry

There are three generations of china and crystal stored in Biltmore House, and much of it is more than 100 years old.

These fragile pieces of the collection are stored in glass-front cabinets in the two-story Butler’s Pantry, and a comprehensive inventory system helps our conservators keep track of each object.

A unique identification number is assigned to every dish and glass, the location of the piece is recorded, and a digital photo of it is included in an inventory database.

Cleaning generations of Biltmore china and crystal
Genevieve cleans saucers that bear George Vanderbilt’s monogram, while the floral patterned plates on the left were chosen by Vanderbilt’s grandson, William A.V. Cecil, for Biltmore’s centennial celebration in 1995

Cleaning all the china and crystal in the Butler’s Pantry is a process that takes several weeks to complete. Each piece is dusted, wiped with a mixture of ethanol and water, and dried with lint-free cloths. All the objects are inspected for unstable cracks.

“Most of the cleaning and dusting is done in the Butler’s Pantry, because the less we move such fragile pieces, the better,” said Genevieve Bieniosek, Furniture Conservator.

Preventing problems

Caring for a fragile part of Biltmore history--crystal glassware
Delicate crystal glassware with George Vanderbilt’s monogram in the Butler’s Pantry

During a recent cleaning project, the conservators noticed that some of the crystal on display was suffering from ‘glass disease.’ According to Genevieve, this is a condition where components in the glass structure leach out over time, causing the glass to appear cloudy.

“If left untreated,” Genevieve explained, “it will eventually create a fine network of cracks over the piece.”

The glasses were treated by washing them with mild soap and water, drying them with soft towels, and letting them air dry for several hours.

“By treating them now, we avoid permanent damage from the glass disease,” said Genevieve.

Improving the process of storing crystal and china

China cup with Cornelia Vanderbilt's monogram
This fluted cup and saucer bear Cornelia Vanderbilt’s monogram

In addition to careful cleaning of these fragile pieces, our conservators are always looking for ways to improve the overall process for preserving the china and crystal.

“We recently looked into different types of padding material to keep the china safer, and placed sheets of polyethylene foam between each dish. The material is very stable, so the sheets don’t break down and create chemicals that could harm the china,” noted Genevieve.

Take a behind-the-scenes guided tour

Biltmore House Butler's Pantry
The Butler’s Pantry, as seen on The Biltmore House Backstairs Tour

Plan a visit to America’s Largest Home today, and treat yourself to The Biltmore House Backstairs Tour. You’ll experience an in-depth look at servant life at Biltmore with this 60-minute guided tour, including rarely-seen areas such as the Butler’s Pantry as you hear fascinating stories of those who worked and lived on the estate in the Vanderbilts’ era.

Featured blog image: Biltmore conservators Genevieve Bieniosek and Renee Jolly clean china and crystal in the Butler’s Pantry of Biltmore House

Biltmore’s Curatorial Team: Current Projects

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Biltmore’s curatorial team oversees the research and interpretation of the historic collections, interiors, and history of Biltmore Estate, including managing room restoration projects, exhibitions, tours, and publications. The collections management team oversees the cataloging, documentation and preservation of Biltmore collection objects.

Above, we see artifacts used by Biltmore Dairy delivery men that Associate Collections Manager Lenore Hardin is cataloging. The items include an insulated porch box (for leaving fresh milk on the customer’s doorstep), a bottle carrier (for carrying  bottles to and from the truck), a stackable wire milk crate, and Biltmore Dairy milk bottles. 

Here are a few more of their current projects…

George Vanderbilt’s application to the New York chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution

While doing research, Curatorial Assistant Lori Garst found George Vanderbilt’s application to the New York chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. His application was sponsored by his uncle Benjamin Kissam, the brother of his mother, Maria Louisa Kissam Vanderbilt.

strips of wallpaper came from the bedroom of Mrs. King, Biltmore’s longtime housekeeper

From the desk of Biltmore’s Collections Manager, Laura Overbey: These strips of wallpaper came from the bedroom of Mrs. King, Biltmore’s longtime housekeeper. It’s one of the unrestored rooms guests can visit on the Behind-the-Scenes Guided Upstairs-Downstairs Tour.

a picture of little George Vanderbilt's sister Lila and little George and Lila as children in the 1860s

Curatorial Assistant Lori Garst has seen more Vanderbilt family photos than just about anyone. As part of her job cataloging the 9,000+ photos in Biltmore’s collection, she has learned to recognize family members by face. On her desk, a picture of George Vanderbilt’s sister Lila and little George and Lila as children in the 1860s.

Read our blogs on Biltmore’s Archival and Conservation team to see what other projects are underway at Biltmore.

Exploring George Vanderbilt’s Library

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Even in Biltmore House, where so many rooms are filled with amazing collections of beautiful things, the Library still shines as a special place. George Vanderbilt was a remarkable man, and it’s fascinating to learn more about him through the creation of his magnificent and enduring library at Biltmore.

Learn more about George Vanderbilt’s tastes and interests with this look at some noteworthy books that form the Biltmore House Library collection.

When he was 12, George Vanderbilt began recording the names of each book he read in a journal, and he continued that habit throughout his life. If we look at any representative year, we get a sense of the breadth of his intellect. In 1899, Mr. Vanderbilt read a total of 51 books: 31 were novels, including The Two Magies and The Awkward Age by Henry James and Antonia or the Fall of Rome by Wilkie Collins. 

An up-close look at leather-bound books in the collection
An up-close look at leather-bound books in the collection

Most of the books George Vanderbilt collected were sent to one of the great bookbinders of the period, such as Riviere, Stikeman, Lortic, or David.  A few months later they would be returned beautifully bound in Moroccan leather, with gilt lettering and decoration, to be placed on the shelves of the Biltmore House Library.

By the time of his death, George Vanderbilt had collected more than 23,000 volumes. Approximately one-third of the volumes were antiquarian purchases, with the oldest appearing to be an Italian work published in 1561. The major strengths of the collection are 19th-century English and American literature, art and architecture; travel, philosophy and religion; history; and French fiction and non-fiction reflecting both his and his wife’s interest in France and their fluency in the French language.

Detailed look at a large bookpress in Library in Biltmore House

The Biltmore House Library contains a complete and important set of James Audubon’s The Birds of America and The Quadrapeds of America. The copies are unusual in that they are the smaller octavo edition, not the very large elephant folio edition so prized by print collectors. What makes Biltmore’s set particularly interesting is that they are bound with the original paper wrappers that accompanied each part as Audubon’s publisher issued them.

Another important work is Thomas McKenney and James Hall’s History of the Indian Tribes of North America. Our volumes are the original large folio edition and contain a full set of the original 120 hand-colored lithographs. Many of the original oil paintings by Charles Bird King from which these folio prints were taken were destroyed by a fire in the Smithsonian in 1865.

Meet Our Chefs

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Fresh, estate-grown and locally-sourced ingredients inspire our talented chefs to create menus influenced by the rich agricultural heritage of Western North Carolina and the legendary hospitality of the Vanderbilts. We are proud of our entire culinary team that brings the best of Biltmore to the table, and we invite you to meet our chefs:

Biltmore Executive Chefs

Executive Chef Noriko Oda
Bistro

In her role as Bistro Executive Chef, Noriko Oda emphasizes the importance of Biltmore’s field to table program while acting as a mentor to her staff and interns. Before coming to Biltmore in 2008, Chef Noriko Oda worked in fine restaurants around the world. Beginning with an interest in creating pastries, the Japanese native continued expanding her culinary skills to encompass more options, always with a passion for creating harmony in the flavor, balance, and texture of her dishes. Chef Oda creates fresh, seasonal menus for Bistro that showcase her passion and energy for fine dining.

 

Executive Chef Kirk Fiore
Deerpark & Lioncrest

Executive Chef Kirk Fiore joined Biltmore in 2013, and our guests at Deerpark and Lioncrest have been able to taste the attention to detail and caring with which he prepares every meal. It’s rare to find everything made from scratch in a restaurant setting, but it’s even more unusual in event spaces where many meals are served banquet and buffet style. But at Lioncrest and Deerpark, Fiore’s team achieves this standard of excellence. According to Chef Kirk, working as a team is one of the most satisfying parts of the job for him.

Executive Chef Mark DeMarco
Cedric’s Tavern

With a love of the freshest and finest ingredients, Executive Chef Mark DeMarco of Cedric’s Tavern stays true to his home-cooking roots and the culinary lessons he learned helping with his family’s catering business. For Mark, delivering the best dining experience starts with the sourcing, and knowing the people who raise and grow ingredients for Cedric’s dishes is key. Mark and his staff don’t take shortcuts, and everything, including the bread, is made from scratch, in-house daily.

Executive Chef Shannon Sutherland
Stable Cafe

After graduating from the Florida Culinary Institute, Chef Shannon Sutherland held key positions at high-profile resorts including The Garden Grove at Walt Disney World and the Westin Times Square. In her current role as Executive Chef for Stable Cafe, she’s responsible for everything from menu development to catering fantastic weddings on the Front Lawn of Biltmore House. Chef Sutherland believes food tastes best when you know where it’s coming from, and she enjoys using our freshest local and estate-raised ingredients.

Biltmore Pastry Chefs

Pastry Chef Cassi Cardwell
Stable Cafe

Stable Café Pastry Chef Cassi Cardwell earned her associate degree in Baking & Pastry Arts from Johnson & Wales University in 2008. After graduation, Cassi spent a year with a catering firm in Charlotte, then worked at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club for three years before joining Biltmore. In addition to overseeing all pastries, breads, and desserts for Stable Café and the Victorian Bake Shop in the Stable Courtyard, Cassi and her team also prepare desserts for banquets catered by Stable Cafe and create the wedding cakes for ceremonies on the Front Lawn, South Terrace, and Italian Garden.

Pastry Chef Rachel vom Orde
Bistro 

While studying at the New England Culinary Institute in Vermont, Rachel vom Orde interned at Biltmore. After graduating with a degree in Baking & Pastry-Making, Rachel returned to Biltmore and now serves as Pastry Chef for the Bistro, creating all its breads, doughs, pastries, and desserts in-house. A self-described behind-the-scenes person, Rachel enjoys the inner workings of restaurants and the challenges of preparing exceptional cuisine featuring the estate’s freshest seasonal produce.

Pastry Sous Chef Tara Lumley
Deerpark, Lioncrest & Catering

Tara Lumley is Pastry Sous Chef for Deerpark, Lioncrest, and Biltmore Catering. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America with a degree in pastry, she worked at the Ritz Carlton in Naples, Florida for a decade before joining Biltmore in 2014. Whether she’s baking at Biltmore or in her own kitchen at home, Tara enjoys the field-to-table philosophy that the estate emphasizes, like using what’s in season and finding interesting new ways to create different menus using ingredients that are plentiful at the moment.

Meet Our Farmers

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From the beginning, George Vanderbilt envisioned Biltmore as a working estate and farm. He set aside the acres of rich, rolling land along the French Broad River for raising healthy livestock and growing food for Biltmore House, with surplus produce to be sold in the community. We continue to honor that legacy today through the efforts of a highly-specialized team of “farmers” who oversee our field-to-table program and other agricultural initiatives. Let us introduce you to our farming experts:

 

Dr. Ted Katsigianis
Vice President of Agriculture and Environmental Science

Before joining Biltmore, Dr. Ted Katsigianis earned Masters and Ph.D. degrees in animal science at Penn State and worked as a livestock extension specialist at the Universities of Kentucky and Maryland. In the past three decades, he has overseen the vineyards, the estate’s production gardens, and much more. Today, “Dr. Ted,” as he's affectionately known, serves as Vice President of Agriculture and Environmental Science and is in charge of raising antibiotic and hormone-free beef and lamb served in estate restaurants.

 

Eli Herman
Production Garden Manager

Eli Herman serves as Biltmore's Production Garden Manager, overseeing all aspects of the estate's field to table gardens, including frequent meetings with Biltmore chefs to discuss their menus and ongoing needs for the freshest seasonal vegetables. In his more than three decades with Biltmore, Eli has filled a variety of roles including Vineyard Supervisor and Kitchen Garden Manager, and has served as a Master Gardener Volunteer at the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service.

 

 

Philip Oglesby
Vineyard Supervisor

Philip Oglesby began picking grapes in Biltmore’s vineyard in 1997. Eighteen years later, Philip serves as Vineyard Supervisor and is responsible for managing the acres of grapes on the estate’s west side, the vineyard staff that care for the vines year-round, and the seasonal crews that harvest the fruit.

Top 6 Rainy Day Activities at Biltmore

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What’s the best way to enjoy all that our sprawling, 8,000-acre private mountain estate has to offer when Mother Nature isn’t cooperating? 

In George and Edith Vanderbilt’s day, you could curl up in the Library with a good book, enjoy a dip in the indoor pool, warm up with a brisk workout in the Gymnasium, or even spend the afternoon bowling—all without ever leaving Biltmore House! Fast-forward over a century and there’s still plenty to do to ensure a rainy day doesn’t damper your vacation to Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina!

Things to do on a rainy day at Biltmore

📷 by @heyheatherangel on Instagram. See more from our guests with #ChihulyatBiltmore.

1. Immerse yourself in the spellbinding world of Chihuly

Just as George Vanderbilt loved sharing world-class artwork with his guests over a century ago, we look forward to sharing Chihuly at Biltmore with you! Be transported to another world as you move through the breathtaking galleries of our Amherst event center. In addition to the awe-inspiring installations in Amherst, guests have the opportunity to marvel at two large-scale installations presented on estate grounds: A Winter White and Glacier Blue Tower on the East Terrace in front of Biltmore House and a freestanding Torchlight Chandelier at the Entry Green in Antler Hill Village.

Tip: This special exhibition is on display March 25, 2024, through January 5, 2025 and is included with select ticket types or as part of select lodging packages. Biltmore Annual Passholders may purchase discounted exhibition-only tickets. Don’t wait to plan your visit.

Inside Biltmore's Conservatory
Biltmore’s historic Conservatory is a tropical getaway all year long, but an especially nice retreat during a rainy day at Biltmore!

2. Explore our historic Conservatory

Situated down the hill from Biltmore House and past the Walled Garden, this glorious garden-under-glass is a fascinating place to explore in any weather, but it’s especially nice to enjoy all the benefits of a lush garden full of tropical plants without getting drenched in a downpour!

Butler's Pantry
Step inside the Bulter’s Pantry of Biltmore House with a specialty tour.

3. Upgrade your visit to include a Biltmore House specialty tour

Let the rain fall while you experience a different side of Biltmore House and its surroundings. Specialty tours such as the Biltmore House Backstairs Tour offer a behind-the-scenes look at the rarely-seen domestic staff’s areas and what it was like to work at America’s Largest Home over a century ago.

Tip: Specialty tours offered in Biltmore House will change periodically and may have limited capacity. For our most current offerings, please visit our Tours page online.

Guests at The Vanderbilts at Home and Abroad exhibbition
Learn about the Vanderbilt family and their travels, including their fateful decision to not board the Titanic as planned.

4. Learn more about the Vanderbilts at The Biltmore Legacy

Antler Hill Village is home to The Biltmore Legacy, an exhibition space that features a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the Vanderbilt family and their treasures with our The Vanderbilts at Home and Abroad exhibition. Exploring this guest-favorite exhibition is a perfect rainy-day activity at Biltmore!

Biltmore Wines
Discover our entire portfolio of Biltmore Wines at our Winery in Antler Hill Village.

5. Enjoy Biltmore Wines at America’s most-visited winery

Let it pour outside while you enjoy the “pours” inside at America’s most-visited winery! This original estate dairy barn was converted to a winery in 1985, and you can experience a complimentary wine tasting (included with any admission type!) and other delicious offerings! Plus, Biltmore’s Winery recently welcomed a stunning Chandelier by world-renowned artist, Dale Chihuly, which is on display daily inside our Wine Shop.

Afternoon Tea at The Inn
Savor decadent scones as part of the elegant Afternoon Tea service offered at The Inn.

6. Shop, Savor, and Stay!

What better way to wait out a rain shower than to savor decadent farm-to-table meals or pick out momentos from your time at Biltmore? With over 20 unique shops and restaurants on the estate available only to Biltmore guests and Passholders, you’ll have plenty to choose from!

Make your time on George Vanderbilt’s visionary estate even more memorable with an overnight stay at one of our unique lodging properties, including our four-star Inn on Biltmore Estate, cozy Village Hotel on Biltmore Estate, or a historic, private Cottage on Biltmore Estate.

Raindrops settle on coneflowers in Biltmore's gardens.
Summer rain showers leave glistening drops on native coneflowers in Biltmore’s gardens.

BONUS: Pack an umbrella and explore our gardens and grounds

The weather in the mountains changes frequently, so much so, that the locals in Asheville often say “If you don’t like the weather, just wait ten minutes.” During light showers, you might even enjoy grabbing your umbrella or rain poncho for a peaceful stroll through our historic gardens.

Tip: Be sure to check the local weather radar and have a backup plan in case the forecasts predict more severe weather than a mild sprinkle.

A Fantastical Creature

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The Indian spice trade, Portuguese royalty, and a shipwreck: what do these adventure-story elements have to do with Biltmore House? There’s a connection to them in the Salon, in the form of a print by the famed Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer.

It was 1515 and King Manuel I of Portugal was trying to reach an agreement with an Indian sultan in order to build a fort to protect Portugal’s growing trade operations in India. Negotiations had failed, but as a goodwill gesture, the sultan gifted the king a rhinoceros, shipped off to Lisbon via Goa on the Nossa Senhora da Ajuda.

Something To Write Home About

The rhino made quite a splash when it arrived in Lisbon. No one on the continent had seen one in living memory and the rhinoceros had, in fact, been considered to be a creature of myth. A German merchant happened to be in the city when the animal arrived, and sent a letter about it to a friend in Nürnberg (Dürer’s home town) enclosing a sketch.

“This is an accurate representation,” wrote the merchant. “It is the color of a speckled tortoise and is almost entirely covered with thick scales. It is the size of an elephant, but has shorter legs and is almost invulnerable. It has a strong pointed horn on the tip of its nose…” Although the letter wasn’t written to him, Dürer saw it, along with the sketch. He copied the drawing first in pen and ink; that rendering is now in the collection of the British Museum. Later, he made a woodblock print based on the drawing. Close inspection of the print reveals that it isn’t exactly accurate. There’s an extra horn (placed on its back) and the armored plates resemble those of an armadillos. There’s an extra plate hanging at the rhino’s throat. Although the original description did mention scales, real rhinos don’t have them. Dürer is believed to have made between 4,000-5,000 prints of the rhino, which made their way around Europe.

An Enduring Image

The print became the de facto illustration of a rhinoceros for centuries, regardless of its inaccuracies. Dürer’s rhino was used in German textbooks as recently as the 1930s. As for the rhino that served as inspiration, it sadly lost its life in a shipwreck near Genoa on its way to Rome after the King Manuel decided to re-gift it to Pope Leo X. It was over half a century before another rhino was seen in Europe.

The Rhinoceros is just one of the 18 Dürer prints on the South Wall in the Salon, part of George Vanderbilt’s 1600-plus-piece collection of woodblock prints, engravings, etchings, photogravures and aquatints. Be sure to check out The Rhinoceros and the many other prints on your next visit to Biltmore House.

Top Tips for Traveling with Wine

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From road trips to air travel, the words “summer vacation” are ones we dream of all year long—there’s just something about warm weather that puts us in the mood to take time off and enjoy ourselves!

Wherever your travels take you, be sure to take along your favorite Biltmore Wines, or bring them back with you if the estate is your destination. To help prevent mishaps, here are some of our top tips for transporting wine:

Airline etiquette wine tips

  1. Bring bubble wrap! Swathe wine bottles in bubble wrap to protect them from breaking in-flight and throughout your travels. If you don’t have bubble wrap, use heavy clothing. Note: to bring wine on an airline, you MUST check your bag (wine bottles cannot be stowed in your carry-on luggage).
  2. Checking your wine: Currently, you may take up to five liters of alcohol with alcohol content between 24% and 70% per person as checked luggage if it’s packaged in a sealable bottle or flask. Before you fly, be sure to verify all rules at the TSA site here.
  3. If you’re buying a lot of wine, it’s probably easier to have the winery ship it directly to you.  Shipping can be expensive, but at least you’ll know the wine has been packed carefully, and you can even have it shipped via climate controlled transport if the summer weather is extremely hot. Be sure to check the winery’s shipping rules as details can vary state-by-state.
  4. To avoid anxiety around broken bottles and leakage in your luggage, wrap an absorbent cloth around the bottle first before wrapping bubble wrap or clothes around it. Diapers come in handy for this purpose!

Road trip wine tips

  1. Extreme heat can ruin wine. The ideal temperature for wine storage is a cool 55–65 degrees F, so on road trips, the air-conditioned interior of your car is a better place for wine than your trunk.
  2. If stopping overnight, we recommend bringing the wine inside with you to ensure a consistent temperature.
  3. When packing wine for travel, store bottles on their sides or upside down to keep wine in contact with the cork. If the cork gets dry, it can let too much air through and oxidize the wine.
  4. A cooler will help your wines remain at an ideal temperature during travel, but opt for ice packs rather than loose ice.

Whether flying or driving, once you arrive at your final destination, let wines rest for at least a week if not more to help them settle. All of the traveling can shake up the wine and cause bottle shock. This does not ruin the wine, but can make it taste slightly “off.” Letting it rest for a few weeks allows the wine to return to its ideal state!