1904 Holiday Menu Recreation: Mince Pie

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In 1904, the Vanderbilt family’s holiday menu included mince pie for dessert.

We asked Biltmore Chef Spencer Hilgeman of Village Social to create recipes inspired by the archival 1904 menu book for a modern Thanksgiving celebration.

This video on our three-part series details the delicious mince pie inspired by the very same menu the Vanderbilt’s enjoyed at their 1904 Thanksgiving Dinner.

Two pages of the archival menu book at Biltmore
Archival menu book used at Biltmore House

Dessert: Apple and Currant Mince Pie with White Cheddar Crust

Mince Pie Dough
3 cups flour
½ pound butter, chopped and chilled
1½ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
½ cup white cheddar, shredded
1 egg, beaten (egg wash for crust)

Combine all ingredients except water and knead until butter is incorporated into the flour. Add water and continue to knead. Wrap in plastic wrap and allow to rest in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.

Mince Pie Filling
6-7 Granny Smith apples
2 cups dried currants
1/8 teaspoon ginger
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 bay leaves
1 cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons honey
1 cup apple cider

In a medium pot, combine all ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until apples are soft and apple cider has reduced. Allow to cool to at least room temperature.

Mince Pie Finish

Roll out pie dough large enough to cut two circles 1-2 inches larger than your pie pan. Cut out 2 circles with a knife. Place one in the bottom of your pie pan and trim off any excess. “Blind bake” the crust in oven for about 15 minutes until it is very light brown on the edges. Remove and cool.

Fill bottom crust with pie filling. Place other dough circle over the top and trim any excess. Crimp the edges with a fork, brush with egg wash, and score in the middle to allow steam to escape. Bake at 350F for 35-45 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Remove from oven, allow to cool for 30 minutes, and enjoy!

Vanderbilt Reserve Pinot Noir

Pair with our Vanderbilt Reserve Pinot Noir

Enjoy with our elegant Vanderbilt Reserve Pinot Noir Russian River Valley. Strawberry, raspberry, vanilla, and well-integrated oak aromas give way to supple fruit flavors.

Find recipes and video instructions for Chef Spencer’s inspired appetizer, Oysters on the 1/2 Shell with a Holiday Sauce Trio and his entrée, Blood Orange Roast Turkey.

1904 Menu Recreation: Roast Turkey

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We asked Biltmore Chef Spencer Hilgeman to create recipes inspired from the archival 1904 menu book for a modern Thanksgiving celebration. This second video on our three-part series details a roast turkey entree inspired by the very same menu the Vanderbilts enjoyed at their 1904 Thanksgiving Dinner.

Entree: Blood Orange Roast Turkey with Heirloom Potatoes

Chef suggests using an 8–10# Airline Turkey Breast. This recipe also would work with a 10–15# Whole Young Turkey.

Compound Butter
1 Pound Unsalted Butter
2 TBSP Chopped Herbs (Parsley, Thyme, Chives)
3 TBSP Chopped Shallots
Zest of 3 Blood Oranges
3 TBSP Salt
1 TBSP Ground Black Pepper
Combine all ingredients and mix. Separate the skin from the breast and stuff the compound butter underneath.

Top turkey with 2 TBSP salt, 2 TSBP pepper and 3 TBSP olive oil. Roast uncovered at 375 degrees for 1 ½–2 hours or until the internal temperatures reaches 165 degrees.

Herb Roasted Heirloom Potatoes
2 Pounds Baby Heirloom Potatoes
3 Sprigs Fresh Rosemary
4 Sprigs Fresh Thyme
3 TBSP Chopped Garlic
2 Shallots Sliced
3 TBSP Olive Oil
2 TBSP Salt
1 TBSP Ground Pepper

Combine all ingredients, ensuring the oil coats everything. Place on small baking sheet and bake for 30–45 minutes at 350 degrees, or until potatoes are tender.

Blood Orange Glaze
2 Cups Biltmore Century Red Wine
2 Cups Blood Orange Juice
1 Cup Sugar
2 TBSP Honey

Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer until a light syrup consistency. Allow turkey to rest before applying blood orange glaze.

Biltmore Estate Chardonnay

Wine Pairing

Enjoy with Biltmore Estate Chardonnay. Smooth and balanced with subtle floral aromas, crisp fruit flavors, and hints of oak.

Complete your meal with recipes and video instructions for our appetizer, Oysters on the 1/2 Shell with a Holiday Sauce Trio, and for dessert, Apple and Currant Mince Pie with White Cheddar Crust.

1904 Menu Recreation: Oysters on the 1/2 Shell

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1904 Archival Biltmore Menu

In Biltmore’s Archives, a cherished diary detailing menus for luncheons and dinners served between Sepember 27 and December 31, 1904 is safely stored. Kept by estate cook Ester Anderson, this book includes menus and the number of guests expected for special occasions such as Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner, where both time-honored favorites and unique recipes were listed.

Knowing that tastes have changed over the last century, we asked Biltmore Chef Spencer Hilgeman at Village Social to create recipes inspired from the archival 1904 menu book for a modern Thanksgiving celebration.

In this blog series, we’ll detail Chef Spencer’s recipes and video instructions for an appetizer, entree, and dessert inspired by the very same menu the Vanderbilts enjoyed at their 1904 Thanksgiving Dinner.

Appetizer: Oysters on the 1/2 Shell with a Holiday Sauce Trio

Oyster Shucking Tips: Use a folded towel to protect your hand. When using the shucker, rather than pushing hard, jiggle it like a key to pop the hinge of the oysters. Once open, be sure to remove the muscle from the bottom of the shell for easy eating.

Cocktail Sauce
1/2 Cup Ketchup
2 TBSP Prepared Horseradish
1 TBSP Worcestershire Sauce

Charred Onion Relish
5 Green Onions, lightly sautéed & choppped
2 TBSP Chopped Parsley
½ Jalepeno, thinly sliced
2 TBSP White Balsamic Vinegar
3 TBSP Olive Oil
2 TSP Salt
1 TSP Ground Pepper

Biltmore Sparkling Mignonette
2 TBSP Chopped Parsley
1 TBSP Mirin
1 Shallot Sliced
2 TBSP Champagne Vinaigrette
1 TBSP Honey
2 TSP Salt
1 TSP Ground Pepper
¼ Cup Biltmore Brut Sparkling

Combine ingredients for each sauce into separate bowls, allowing mignonette to chill for two hours. Top a platter of oysters with any or all of the three holiday sauces.

Biltmore Estate Brut

Wine Pairing

Enjoy with Biltmore Brut Sparkling. This refreshing blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir offers a good balance of citrus with hints of honey and apricot.

Follow these links for recipes and video instructions for the main entree, Blood Orange Roast Turkey, and for dessert, Apple and Currant Mince Pie with White Cheddar Crust.

Biltmore’s Winery: A Tradition of Evolution

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Biltmore’s Winery is the most visited in the country, producing about 150,000 cases of wine annually. Our award-winning wines are available on the estate and also distributed across the country and even online.

Let’s take a moment to reflect on how we got here. And as it turns out, the Winery’s tradition of evolution is even older than the Winery itself.

Biltmore Dairy milkman and delivery truck, 1930-1940s

The Days of Biltmore Dairy

Before it became the Winery in Antler Hill Village, the century-old structure was the main dairy barn for Biltmore Dairy. Designed by Richard Howland Hunt, son of Biltmore architect Richard Morris Hunt, and farm manager George Weston, the barn accommodated 140 cows for one of the largest dairy operations in the Southeast.

Biltmore Dairy was the most successful of all of Biltmore’s enterprises, providing the estate with a financial cushion that would see it through George Vanderbilt’s death, two world wars, the Great Depression, and beyond.

After Biltmore House opened to the public in 1930, guests could view the milking rooms and processing areas in the dairy barn, sample the milk, and buy ice cream. Biltmore Dairy was so successful and its products were so well-known that it became an attraction in its own right for estate visitors.

It was around this time that the dairy’s delivery wagons were replaced with trucks and the fleet grew from 30 vehicles to over 400 in just 15 years.

Unfortunately, the market gradually shifted and, like many other smaller, family-run businesses at the time, Biltmore Dairy became unable to compete with larger commercial operations. With the advent of chain grocery stores came a cheaper, more convenient option for consumers to purchase milk, eventually making door-to-door dairy delivery obsolete. In April of 1985, Biltmore Dairy was sold to Pet, Inc.

Philippe Jourdain, Biltmore’s first Winemaster

A New Drink, A New Day

Even before Biltmore Dairy was sold, George Vanderbilt’s grandson and Biltmore’s owner, William A.V. Cecil, was asking: “What’s more appropriate for a French château than vineyards and a winery?”

In the early 1970s, he planted the first vines on the property, just below Biltmore House, and bottled the inaugural vintage in the Conservatory basement.

Less than pleased with the product, Mr. Cecil traveled to France in search of expertise. He returned with Philippe Jourdain, Biltmore’s first Winemaster. Together, the pair moved the vineyards to their current location on the west side of the estate and established Biltmore Estate Wine Company.

Biltmore’s Winery in Antler Hill Village

Opening Biltmore’s Winery

The conversion of the dairy barn into a state-of-the-art winery began in 1983. Mr. Cecil’s son and Biltmore’s current CEO, Bill Cecil, assumed the leadership role in overseeing the renovation.

In 1985, the Winery opened to the public in what Mr. Cecil called, “the most historic event since my grandfather had opened his estate to his family on Christmas Day ninety years earlier.”

Since the opening of the Winery in Antler Hill Village, we’ve celebrated the release of new Biltmore Wines, expanded our Tasting Room, opened a Wine Bar, and developed tours featuring the Winery’s production facility and wine tastings.

Biltmore’s Winemaker, Sharon Fenchak

The Evolution Continues

French native Bernard Delille joined Biltmore as an assistant winemaker in 1986—making this year his 30th anniversary with Biltmore Estate Wine Company. Bernard was promoted to Winemaster and Vice President of the Winery when Philippe retired in 1995.

Sharon Fenchak joined the team a few years later and now serves as Biltmore’s Winemaker. Her research in grape-growing technology and wine production methods in combination with Bernard’s traditional and artistic perspective proved to be a perfect combination for the Winery. Sales have continued to grow and retail distribution has since expanded.

Indeed, the evolution continues, while at the same time, throughout the dynamic history of the Winery, Biltmore’s winemaking philosophy holds: “To keep each wine true to varietal character, food-friendly, and consistent from vintage to vintage.” 

We invite you to enjoy the fruits of our labors by visiting our estate winery during your next visit, shopping for our award-winning wines online, or finding a retailer near you that carries Biltmore Wines.

Biltmore wines blend in to stand out

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If you ask Biltmore winemaker Sharon Fenchak why some grape varietals are blended into different wines, she’ll tell you there are many reasons, but one of her favorites is to create something special that she thinks Biltmore wine drinkers will enjoy.

Ladies drinking Biltmore wine“Blending varietals is a combination of art and science,” Sharon says, “and the final blend should ultimately be more delicious and complex than any of single varietals by themselves. That’s not to say that most varietals can’t stand on their own, but when you’re blending, you’re doing it to enhance the final product.”

History of blending

Historically speaking, the practice of blending is as old as winemaking itself. While there’s some sense that old world wines are more often blends and new world wines tend to be separate varietals, this may have more to do with the fact that European wines are typically associated with a particular region such as Bordeaux, Rhone, and Champagne while North and South American and southern hemisphere wines are more likely to be noted by the specific type of grape.

Biltmore blends

Biltmore Estate White Blend

At Biltmore, our best-selling blend is our Century Sweet Red created from a blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Zinfandel. One reviewer notes:

“I'm not a red wine drinker AT ALL, but this bottle has me ordering again and again…I LOVE this wine, especially with ribs. It's light, sweet and honestly, the PERFECT…”

For white wine drinkers, our Biltmore Estate White Blend features a blend of Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc which one review characterizes as:

“Spectacular blend. Very good nose with hints of vanilla and honeysuckle. Very drinkable and smooth. Delicious.”

The Hunt, one of our finest wines, is a Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc grown in California’s Sonoma County. Aged for 18 months in French and American oak barrels, The Hunt offers good aging potential along with richly refined layers of taste.

Biltmore Vivescent Sparkling Sec with picnic

Other Biltmore blends:

• Biltmore Century Sweet White
• Biltmore Estate Cardinal’s Crest
• Biltmore Estate Red Blend
• Seasonal releases during spring and at Christmas

We also blend some of our sparkling wines, like our Biltmore Estate Brut and our special seasonal releases for summer and the winter holidays.

Buy any of our wines online or learn where you can buy them locally.

Everything’s Coming Up Rosés!

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Have you ever wondered how rosé wines are created?

Known as rosé in French, rosado in Spanish, and rosato in Italian, rosé is one of the oldest styles of winemaking because—in its simplest form—it involves leaving crushed red grapes together with their skins for a certain amount of time.

Rosés can range from palest pink to deep red, depending on the varietal and how long it stayed in contact with the skin.

3 main ways to create rosés:

• Saignée
When a red varietal is crushed, the first juice is drawn off and aged separately as a rosé. This process results in very fine rosés and also serves to intensify the flavor of the original red varietal.
• Maceration
A red varietal is crushed and the skins are left in contact with the fruit for up to 24 hours, depending on the desired color and flavor of the final product. This is the most common production technique for rosés and produces excellent wines, including our Biltmore rosés.
• Blending
Red and white juices are blended to create a rosé. This process is used mainly for lower-quality wines, although some outstanding sparkling rosés are created in this manner.

Where did rosés originate?

The world’s earliest red wines were probably closer to rosé than modern red wines because it was not considered desirable to leave the grapes in contact with the skins for more than a day.

Over time, Europe would become the primary producers of rosé wines, but that changed in the early 1950s as rosés were successfully introduced into American markets and emerging California wineries began creating their own versions.

By the 1970s, rosé was often referred to as “blush” wine in the U.S., and though wildly popular, the style gradually became associated with sweeter, less-desirable blended wines. Enthusiasm for rosé began to wane.

Rosé renaissance

Today, rosé wines are enjoying a renaissance as winemakers and consumers explore a range of options from traditional dryer varietals such as Grenache, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah to semi-sweet offerings including White Zinfandel and sparkling Moscato versions.

Designed to be served chilled, modern rosés are excellent for sipping on their own and they also partner surprisingly well with eclectic fare such as spicy Asian cuisine and pizza.

Biltmore rosés

At Biltmore, we continue to explore new styles of rosés as our consumers’ palates evolve and new trends arise.

New for 2019, try our Biltmore Reserve North Carolina Rosé. Pale salmon in color, it features a delightful aroma with notes of strawberry, watermelon, honey, and lime. Semi-sweet and refreshing with flavors of kiwi and honeydew, it pairs well with spicy sausage, blackened chicken, and black bean burgers.

In addition, savor delicious options like our long-time favorite Biltmore Estate Zinfandel Blanc de Noir, which is vibrant and crisp with sweet tropical fruit aromas and delicate berry flavors, or our elegant and refreshing Biltmore Estate Dry Rosé 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 crafted from Pinot Noir grapes in the traditional méthode champenoise.

Partners in Good Taste

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George and Edith Vanderbilt served only the finest food to their family and guests. Biltmore continues to honor their heritage today by serving the highest quality foods in estate restaurants and partnering with exceptional vendors to bring those same standards to your table.

That’s why we’ve chosen to partner with Seven Seas International whose mission is to bring the finest fish and seafood products to your table. For more than 130 years, they’ve done just that, building their company on providing sustainable, responsibly-sourced, and delicious seafood.

A Tradition of Culinary Excellence

For more than a century, Biltmore and Seven Seas have shared a tradition of culinary excellence, beginning with George Vanderbilt’s ancestors in the Dutch town of De Bilt,

​where the van de Groep family, founders of Seven Seas, were seafood purveyors to the region.

According to Wien van de Groep, managing director of Seven Seas International, his grandmother began selling fresh fish from a pushcart in Spakenburg, which is about 20 miles from De Bilt. “The Vanderbilts in Holland probably consumed our fish products,” van de Groep said, “because De Bilt was definitely in my grandparent’s distribution area.”

Today these family-owned businesses have reconnected to bring you the finest gourmet seafood.

Be sure to try all of our delicious products sold at your local grocery store. Prepared and smoked with 100% all-natural ingredients, cold smoked varieties include Scottish, Norwegian, and Sockeye. Also try the plain, hot smoked salmon. (Hot smoked only available at Earthfare.)

Find Biltmore Gourmet Salmon at a your local Harris Teeter, Publix, Food City, and Earth Fare. If you have trouble finding the product, please email us at fyhinfo@biltmore.com.

Click here to discover more seafood and recipes.

Make Mother’s Day Morning Special

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Our experts at the Inn have come up with some easy ideas for creating a simple yet elegant breakfast to honor Mom first thing in the morning on her day this Sunday – Mother’s Day. She’ll be delighted that you took the time to make a meal for her – and even more thrilled that she can stay in bed and wait for you to deliver it to her.

Keep the Meal Simple
You don’t have to be a professional cook to make Mom feel like royalty. So don’t shy away from making it easy for yourself as well. Think of it in three parts:  Main Dish, Side Dish and Drink.

 

Main Dish
For the main dish, think eggs. They’re versatile and can be as dressed up or as low-maintenance as you wish. Scramble them with seasonings; poach them and serve with toast and jam; or create an omelet –just fill it with cheese, or go elaborate and add crab, asparagus and brie.

Side Dish
Pastries. There’s nothing wrong with dressing up bakery-bought pastries, especially if you warm them in the oven and arrange them on a pretty plate. Add a little butter pat on the side.  Ready-to-bake cinnamon rolls are also easy to manage, and they fill the house with aromas of cinnamon and sugar.  When Mom wakes up to that scent, she can’t help but smile. 

Parfait or Fruit. Or both. Parfaits are easy to make and pretty. Layer a fancy bowl or glass with Mom’s favorite cereal or granola, and alternate with yogurt and fruit.  Plain yogurt mixed with honey is a nice touch, or any of the flavored varieties will work.

A plate of fresh fruit with honey yogurt dipping sauce is a light choice and ready in minutes. Arrange slices of fruit in different colors on a plate. Consider using banana, berries, cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon, papaya and pineapple. For the dipping sauce, just mix honey into plain yogurt until it tastes sweet.  

Drink
Offer a glass of fresh orange juice (or her favorite), and a cup of coffee with cream and sugar.

 

The Presentation
For presentation, line a bed tray with a cloth napkin. Use the nicest dishware and glassware in the house. Don’t forget to add either the morning newspaper or her favorite magazine. The finishing touch is her favorite flower in a vase.

Wine Label with a Story: Artist Marcus Thomas Paints by Mouth

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The stunning artwork gracing the label of Biltmore’s 2013 spring seasonal wine is the work of gifted artist Marcus Thomas of Weaverville, NC. His interpretation of Biltmore during spring has been turning so many heads that we have invited Marcus to Biltmore Winery for a public meet & greet and label signing.

What:  Taste Biltmore’s Rosé of Pinot Grigio and meet painter Marcus Thomas; Artist will autograph wine bottles bearing his artwork

When:  Saturday, May 4 from 11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Where: Biltmore Winery

Inspirational Artist Trimphs Over Adversity

In addition to the talent evident in Marcus’s artistry, he has an extraordinary personal story. Marcus is quadriplegic, paralyzed below the neck, and uses his mouth to paint incredible works of art.

Marcus survived a skiing accident when he was 26 which left him paralyzed from the neck down. As a recreation major in college and an athlete, his life dramatically changed course in an instant. As he was learning to negotiate his new life as a quadriplegic six months into recovery, Marcus picked up a paintbrush and started to create art. Twenty-five years later, he continues his beautiful work.

This is the second stunning wine label design Marcus has created for Biltmore Wines. Check out ‘Biltmore Winter,’ the people’s choice in our annual wine label design contest and the design graced the 2012 Christmas at Biltmore Wine.

Learn more about Marcus at MarcusThomasArtist.com.

 

The Painter's Spring Vision

In regard to his design, Marcus stated:

“The tulips are definitely the stars of the design. I wanted the flowers to be elevated in the landscape, reigning above the house, creating good depth and inviting the eye to journey within the painting towards the magic of the estate, and beyond to the mountains and spring sky. Flower power prevails!”

Watch the progression of Marcus’s wine label design, “Biltmore in Bloom.”

Where to Get Biltmore's Spring Seasonal Wine

Each year, Biltmore makes a limited-edition semi-sweet rosé wine in honor of spring at Biltmore. Breaking free from tradition this year, we crafted a Rosé of Pinot Grigio. Though Pinot Grigio is usually a white wine, the grape skins actually have a pink–purple hue that can be imparted during pressing.

Look for the wine for sale in stores in select locations, as well as online. The spring seasonal is also available to taste and purchase at Biltmore Winery while supplies last. Don’t forget to join us for a tasting and label signing at Biltmore Winery Saturday, May 4 from 11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

 

Shop all Biltmore wines.

A sweetie for sweeties

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Alicia Barger, the Inn’s pastry chef, had our mouths watering as she whipped up this guest favorite: Chocolate Cheesecake starring OREO® cookies! We talked her into sharing her recipe with us, which is a perfectly simple and absolutely delectable dessert for Valentine’s Day.

The recipe calls for a food processor to make the OREO crust. If you don’t have a food processor, Alicia has a trick:  Place the OREO cookies in a large sealable plastic bag. Press bag to remove excess air, then seal it. Use a rolling pin to crush cookies to form fine crumbs. Add the melted butter and squeeze the bag to evenly moisten the crumbs.

Inn on Biltmore Estate Chocolate Cheesecake

For Crust

3 tablespoons butter, melted

36 OREO cookies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Place cookies in food processor until finely ground.

Add butter and mix until moistened.

Press crumb mixture onto bottom of 9” x 13” pan sprayed with cooking spray.

Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Cool before filling.

 

For Filling

1 1/8 cups sugar

¼ tsp salt

3 tablespoons butter, melted

1 pound, 14 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature (just under four 8-ounce packages from your grocer’s dairy case)

1 cup sour cream

1 cup chocolate syrup

4 large eggs

¾ cups whipping cream

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

Cream sugar, salt, and butter until light and fluffy.

Add cream cheese, scraping sides of bowl frequently.

Add sour cream and chocolate syrup. Scrape bowl well.

Add eggs and cream in increments, scraping well between additions.

Pour into cooled OREO crust-lined pan and bake for 1 hour. Test by lightly tapping on the top of the cake. It should be firm but slightly jiggly.