Explore Biltmore Estate Limited Release Wines

Written by

Explore our Biltmore Estate® Limited Release wines and learn how winemaker Sharon Fenchak carefully handcrafts each varietal or blend in the series here at Biltmore’s Winery in Asheville, North Carolina.

Biltmore winemaker Sharon Fenchak in the Barrel Room at the Winery
Biltmore winemaker Sharon Fenchak in the Barrel Room at the Winery

“When I’m sourcing grapes for our American series wines from one of our California or Washington vineyard partners, I’m also looking for outstanding vintages that inspire me to create distinctive wines for our Limited Release series,” Sharon said.

She noted that the Limited Release wines are usually based on smaller amounts of fruit, and that gives her and her production team an opportunity to bring out different qualities of a varietal or to create intriguing blends.

Biltmore Estate® Limited Release Malbec

Bottle of Biltmore Estate Limited Release Malbec and two glasses
Our award-winning Biltmore Estate Limited Release Malbec is perfect for sipping by the glass or pairing with your favorite hearty fare.

“One of our most popular offerings is our full-bodied, oak-aged Biltmore Estate Limited Release Malbec,” said Sharon. “It opens with scents of cocoa, cedar, molasses, and berries ahead of black raspberry, anise, and rich pecan flavors.”

As a varietal, Malbec originated in France and rose to its current popularity in Argentina and California. Ours is rich, fruit-forward, and a bit spicy with smooth, lingering tannins that pair perfectly with grilled meat, kebabs, and andouille sausage.

It’s also a surprisingly good partner for smoked cheeses and vegetarian fare like mushroom ragout, Portobello burgers, and tempeh dishes. As delicious as it is now, it offers good aging potential—if you can stand to wait!

Biltmore Estate® Limited Release Tempranillo

Pouring red wine into a glass
Try any of our Biltmore Estate Limited Release wines, including our spicy Tempranillo.

Most of the world’s Tempranillo is grown in Spain where it is believed to have originated, but this earthy red wine is rapidly gaining a following around the globe.

“Tempranillo has a lot of personality,” said Sharon. “Ours is full-bodied and fruit-forward with earthy aromas, rich dried fig flavors, and lingering tannins—just what you’d expect in a classic barrel-aged version of this varietal.”

Biltmore Estate® Limited Release Tempranillo is a hearty red wine that’s a great match for beef, lamb curry, and pork.

Explore other Biltmore Estate® Limited Release wines

Biltmore Estate Limited Release Orange Muscat wine paired with Lemon-Cranberry Shortbread cookies
Biltmore Estate® Limited Release Orange Muscat is a favorite for many guests.

In addition to these two varietals, there are a number of other wines in our Limited Release series:

Enjoy Biltmore Estate® Limited Release wines now

Discover all Biltmore white wines at Biltmore's Wine Bar
You’ll find all our Limited Release wines at the Wine Bar adjacent to Biltmore’s Winery.

Savor Biltmore Estate® Limited Release varietals and blends–or any of our fine wines–by the bottle or glass at the Wine Bar adjacent to the Winery, or purchase them in estate shops or online.

Biltmore Wines: Cheers for Each Tier!

Written by

All Biltmore wines are cheers-worthy, from our fine American Series and Limited Release options to our exceptional Reserve tiers and Antler Hill® vintages.

Discover what makes our wines worth cheering about with an overview of each collection.

Biltmore Estate® American Series Collection

Biltmore Estate wines with chocolate desserts
Our classic Biltmore Estate® American Series wines are approachable and feature classic varietal character. Look for the “Biltmore burgundy” capsule and a line drawing of Biltmore House on the label.

Grapes for this collection are selected from leading growing regions across the nation and handcrafted at our estate winery in Asheville, NC. Each wine captures the true character of the varietal, resulting in an outstanding taste that provides a perfect pairing for any occasion.

Example: Biltmore Estate® Cabernet Sauvignon is a great option in our American Series collection. This smooth wine featuring lush cherry flavors and soft, lingering tannins was awarded 95 points in the prestigious San Francisco International Wine Competition.

Biltmore Estate® Limited Release Collection

Bottles of Biltmore Estate Limited Release wines
Biltmore Estate® Limited Release wines, distinguished by a matte black capsule and black-and-gold label, are perfect for sipping by the glass or in craft cocktails.

Crafted in smaller lots, these exceptional wines include some of our most intriguing varietals and blends that showcase our winemaker’s skillful artistry in each bottle. Limited Release wines are exclusively available on the estate, online, or through the Vanderbilt Wine Club®.

Example: Our highly aromatic Biltmore Estate® Limited Release Orange Muscat balances lightly sweet flavors of honey and tropical fruit with a clean, lightly tart finish that is surprisingly zesty.

Biltmore® Reserve Collection

Biltmore Reserve wines on an outdoor table
Our Biltmore® Reserve label honors fine vintages handcrafted with grapes from the estate’s vineyard in Asheville, NC. The collection is distinguished by blue foil capsules and a label showcasing elements of the Vanderbilt family’s table linens and place settings.

An invitation to dine with the Vanderbilts at their magnificent home in Asheville, North Carolina, assured you of enjoying gracious hospitality paired with fine wines. Today, their enduring legacy inspires our winemaker to handcraft each wine in our Biltmore® Reserve Collection from grapes grown at the estate’s own vineyard or from local partners in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Example: We handcraft our lovely Biltmore® Reserve Rosé North Carolina 2020 to offer delicate sweetness with hints of spice and white pepper. Approachable and easy to drink, the style is reminiscent of classic old-world rosés.

Vanderbilt Reserve® collection

Vanderbilt Reserve wine bottles on an elegant table
Each outstanding Vanderbilt Reserve® wine bears the appellation and vintage of its origin. This collection is distinguished by red foil capsules and a label design based on George Vanderbilt’s monogramed china and table linens.

These distinguished vintages reflect George Vanderbilt’s interest in collecting fine wines from around the world to share with his friends and family at Biltmore. For Vanderbilt Reserve® wines, our winemaker selects outstanding fruit from partner vineyards in some of the nation’s finest growing regions and oversees the process of handcrafting each one. Each of these wines bears the appellation and vintage of its origin.

Example: Our Vanderbilt Reserve® Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2018 showcases its versatile, food-friendly character with good acidity, flavors of strawberry, red raspberry, and cherry, and slight hints of minerality, enhanced by aging 14–16 months in French and American oak barrels.

Antler Hill® Collection

Antler Hill wines with plates and glasses
Handcrafted with premium vintages from the finest growing regions, Antler Hill® wines offer extraordinary taste and excellent aging potential. The handsome label is reproduced from a sporting print in George Vanderbilt’s collection.

Antler Hill® wines pair the passion of Biltmore winemaker Sharon Fenchak with the premium harvests and vintages from our small partner vineyards with whom we’ve cultivated long-standing relationships in the nation’s finest wine regions. Each wine is handcrafted with exceptional skill to showcase the varietal, the vintage, and to honor the Vanderbilt family’s heritage of gracious hospitality.

Example: From smooth tropical notes to a bright citrus finish, our exceptional Antler Hill® Chardonnay Carneros 2019 offers crisp layers of refreshing un-oaked flavor achieved by careful aging for 12–24 months in stainless steel tanks under the direction of our estate winemaker.

Biltmore Estate® Sparkling Collection

Biltmore Estate® Chateau Reserve Blanc de Blancs with two flutes
Each of our sparkling wines is carefully handcrafted in the traditional méthode champenoise, including our exceptional Biltmore Estate® Chateau Reserve Blanc de Blancs created with estate-grown Chardonnay grapes.

At Biltmore’s Winery in Asheville, NC, we craft both still and sparkling wines. It’s unusual to offer both—most wineries specialize in one or the other—but Biltmore has a long history of doing the unexpected.

All our sparkling wines are handcrafted in the traditional méthode champenoise, a process that requires a secondary fermentation in the bottle, and is vital for developing the delicate bubbles that characterize outstanding sparkling wines.

Example: Dry and delicate with tiny mousse-like bubbles, Biltmore Estate® Château Reserve Blanc de Blancs North Carolina 2019 is our finest sparkling wine–and it’s handcrafted from our own estate-grown Chardonnay grapes!

Learn more about Biltmore wines

Three bottles of Biltmore wine
Learn more about Biltmore wines with a complimentary tasting at the Winery, then enjoy your favorites by the glass or bottle at the adjacent Wine Bar.

We invite you to learn more about Biltmore wines by visiting our Winery in Asheville, NC, to taste them for yourself! Your Biltmore Estate admission includes access to Antler Hill Village & Winery, and we encourage you to reserve a complimentary tasting at the Winery on the day of your visit.

Want another great way to discover our wines? Become a member of the Vanderbilt Wine Club® and enjoy seasonal shipments of our handcrafted wines delivered directly to your door.


Savor Summer with These Limited Release White Wines

Written by

Savor summer with these Limited Release white wines, handcrafted by Biltmore winemaker Sharon Fenchak to refresh your palate all season long.

“Of course white wines aren’t just for summer,” said Sharon, “but they are uniquely suited to provide crisp, refreshing flavor and pair well with the kinds of lighter foods we enjoy most during warmer weather.”

For the Biltmore Estate Limited Release series, Sharon seeks smaller lots of exceptional grapes from our partner vineyards in California and Washington, allowing her to showcase her skillful artistry in each bottle.

Let’s take a look at four Limited Release white wines crafted from varietals that may be less well known than more mainstream whites such as Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio:

1. Biltmore Estate Limited Release Marsanne

Friends toasting with Biltmore wine
Our new Biltmore Estate Albariño makes any occasion seem special!

Originally from France’s Northern Rhône region, Marsanne is a less well-known white varietal often blended with Roussanne.

After selecting fruit from our California growing partners, Sharon handcrafts our Biltmore Estate Limited Release Marsanne to be light straw in color, with bright opening aromas of banana, kiwi, and lime.

Refreshing with a nice acidity, this light-to-medium-bodied Marsanne offers a fresh flavor reminiscent of tart green apples. Perfect for summer sipping and outdoor entertaining like a classic Lowcountry seafood boil, our Marsanne is excellent with lighter fare such as orange chicken, scallops, and fish tacos, or spinach salad with raspberry vinaigrette.

For desserts, consider key lime pie and lemon pound cake. If you’ve already discovered that you’re a fan of Biltmore’s other food-friendly white wines, we predict you’ll love getting to know our Marsanne!

2. Biltmore Estate Limited Release Orange Muscat

Celebrate summer with Limited Release white wines
Savor summer with our Limited Release white wines, including Orange Muscat

Although it has old-world origins in Italy and France, Orange Muscat is better known today through new-world plantings in the U.S. and Australia.

We handcraft this highly aromatic member of the Muscat family into a straw-colored wine with a luscious fragrant bouquet of peach blossom, honey, and ripe melon.

Light-bodied, nicely balanced, and sweet-forward with flavors of honey and tropical fruit, our Biltmore Estate Limited Release Orange Muscat offers a clean, lightly tart finish that is surprisingly zesty.

Savor this delightful “glass full of summer” with Mexican dishes, crab salad, spicy black bean burgers, Nashville-style hot chicken, fruit salad, angel food cake, and lemon tart.

Most of all, be sure to sip it outdoors on the porch, or try it as the base of a refreshing summer cocktail like this Orange Muscat Mimosa or a pitcher of fruity sangria.

3. Biltmore Estate Limited Release Roussanne

Savor summer with white wines
Enjoy all our Limited Release wines, including Roussanne, this summer!

Roussanne is a late-ripening white grape that originated in the Rhone region of France. While it is often blended with Marsanne, Sharon has chosen to handcraft this Biltmore Estate Limited Release Marsanne as a single varietal with fine grapes selected from partner vineyards in Paso Robles, California.

This medium-bodied pale gold wine offers scents of lime, pear, and coconut. It is soft, round, and nicely balanced with slight hints of minerality along with flavors of lime, kiwi, and tangerine.

Pair it with lighter fare including fish tacos, trout, chicken salad with grapes and strawberries, or a wedge of Ibérico cheese. Refreshing and easy to drink, we suggest sipping a glass of Roussanne while relaxing on the porch—or take a bottle along to your next rustic cabin adventure or “glamping” getaway.

4. Biltmore Estate Limited Release Sémillon

Savor summer with Limited Release white wines
Pack plenty of Limited Release Semillon for your next summer picnic!

Sémillon is native to France’s Bordeaux region. While it is often blended with other wines to give them more body and brighter flavor, Sharon opts to handcraft our Biltmore Estate Limited Release Sémillon as a single varietal to express its distinctive characteristics.

The grapes are selected from partner vineyards in Lake County, California, and the resulting light green-gold wine features a bouquet of fresh pear, banana, and floral notes.

Medium-light in body, our round, creamy Sémillon offers tastes of crisp apple, vanilla, and hints of oak along with good acidity and a soft finish.

Enjoy it with pan-seared scallops, Crab Louie, grilled chicken Caesar salad, and party favorites including brie, savory vol-au-vent canapés, and petite fours. Serve this lovely white wine with a casual dinner, bring it along on a summer picnic, or simply sip it by the glass

Savor Summer with Limited Release White Wines

Vanderbilt Wine Club shipment
Vanderbilt Wine Club members receive a shipment of Biltmore wines each season, plus access to exclusive vintages, virtual tasting events, and more.

Our Limited Release wines–including the four that we’ve highlighted in this post–are exclusively available on the estate, online, or through the Vanderbilt Wine Club®.