(Please enjoy this archived content from Christmas 2020.)
For the past three years, our Facebook fans have been the ones to choose the style of our Christmas at Biltmore Winelabels.
Crowdsourcing our Christmas wine labels
Indoor and outdoor holiday elements were chosen by our Facebook fans for 2020
“It’s worked so well that we keep doing it,” said Chris Price, Wine Marketing Manager. “By voting for the Christmas wine label styles and themes on Facebook, our fans really help us capture the spirit of the season.”
Working with a North Carolina artist
The Biltmore wine marketing team selected artist Denise Nelson of Sherrils Ford, North Carolina, to create two original paintings that would incorporate the holiday images and elements selected by Biltmore’s Facebook followers for our Christmas wine labels.
Your virtual tasting theme can be anything you like, including Christmas at Biltmore white and red wines!
Two winning themes emerged after two rounds of online voting: a wonderfully warm vignette in the grand Library of Biltmore House, and a whimsical outdoor scene featuring the iconic architecture of the iconic home.
Images tell a special story
Paintings in progress: artwork for both labels side-by-side in Denise Nelson’s studio
According to the artist, her assignment felt a little overwhelming at first because both the Library and the house are so richly detailed, but as she began working with the two different ideas that were selected, the images began to tell their own special stories.
Denise builds layers of warm color and delightful detail for the Christmas at Biltmore Red Wine label painting
“I started with the Christmas at Biltmore Red Wine label,” Denise said. ” It was delightful to present an interior view of the house that includes a child’s rocking horse and Cedric, the Vanderbilts’ beloved Saint Bernard, resting on the hearth in front of the massive fireplace.”
Denise captured Cedric the St. Bernard in magnificent detail, from the rough texture of his coat to the firelight reflected in his eyes
Denise was able to work in other wonderful Library details, like cheerful Christmas décor and a glimpse of Pelligrini’s The Chariot of Aurora ceiling painting soaring overhead.
Classic architecture meets frosty fun
Denise kept her colors cool for the Christmas at Biltmore White Wine label
Fans also voted to see a snowy outdoor scene featuring Biltmore House at night, and Denise was happy to oblige.
For the Christmas at Biltmore White Wine label, Denise painted a timeless winter scene that looks as if the Vanderbilts and their guests might have created this cheerful snowman before returning to the warmth of Biltmore House!
“I imagined a nicely chilled bottle of Christmas at Biltmore White Wine,” said Denise, “and that helped me capture the tone of the season. You’ll see the windows of Biltmore House alight for the holidays, and a cheerful snowman in a red scarf adds a bit of frosty fun to the formal architecture.”
Give a thoughtful gift of wine this season
Christmas at Biltmore Wines are perfect for gift giving and for complementing your favorite flavors at the holiday buffet or dessert table
Whether you’re in the mood for a fragrant, semi-sweet white wine or a soft, fruit-forward red, our Christmas at Biltmore Wines offer a classic complement to your favorite flavors at the holiday buffet or dessert table. As an added bonus, the lovely Christmas labels make both wines a charming gift of the season for someone special.
Find all of our handcrafted wines in estate shops, online, or close to home with our Biltmore Wine Finder.
To say that the summertime curb appeal in front of Biltmore House veers toward the dramatic would be accurate! Towering palm trees flank the front door, all of them carefully arranged in terracotta pots sturdy enough to keep the contents secure. For plantings this huge, their containers can measure up to 40 inches tall and 50 inches wide.
Some of the containers in front of Biltmore are replicas made in Impruneta, Italy, the same town in which the home’s original pots were made in the late 1800s. For the reproductions, the faces and garlands were matched with the ones on the original pots.
This year, Biltmore gardener Todd Roy created the plant design for the containers at the front of the house, the terrace that crosses the facade, as well as the pots at the base of the Rampe Deuce, across from the house.
Guests often ask Todd and his cohorts on the horticulture team questions on how best to get the Biltmore look in their home gardens. Here are some of Todd’s favorite tips for creating dazzling container gardens at home.
“Thriller, Filler and Spiller”
To achieve a balanced container, Todd says to design with these basic components.
• “Thrillers” are the upright, tall component.
• “Fillers” are medium-height, middle-area plants.
• “Spillers” are the plants that hang over and around the edges of the container.
Select plants with similar watering needs Consult the plant tags for watering requirements so you are choosing plants that share the same maintenance schedule.
Texture And finally, select plants with differing leaf sizes and colors for a full and lush effect.
More about Biltmore’s historic gardens may be found here.
Savor summer with Biltmore Estate Limited Release white wines, handcrafted by Sharon Fenchak, Executive Winemaker, and 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 our Biltmore Estate Limited Release wines, 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:
Biltmore Estate® Limited Release white wines makes any occasion more special!
Originally from Germany’s Rhine River region, Riesling is a versatile white varietal that lends itself to a wide range of styles from lightly sweet to quite dry.
After selecting fruit from our California growing partners, Sharon handcrafts our Biltmore Estate Limited Release Dry Riesling to be refreshing and approachable with light floral notes and hints of spearmint. Delicate flavors of lime, kiwi, and honeydew add to its vibrant profile.
Versatile and round, this light-to-medium-bodied Dry Riesling is perfect for summer sipping and outdoor entertaining. It pairs well with pecan-crusted trout, sushi, and vegetarian pad Thai or lo mein. Sip a glass on the porch after a long day at work, or savor it with dinner—especially if you picked up something tasty on your way home!.
If you’re already a fan of Biltmore’s other food-friendly white wines, we predict you’ll love getting to know our Dry Riesling!
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.
3. Biltmore Estate® Limited Release Fumé Blanc
Savor summer with Biltmore Estate Limited Release white wines like our versatile Fumé Blanc.
Our handcrafted Fumé Blanc begins with an outstanding Sauvignon Blanc that we’ve allowed to age, deepening into a full-bodied, creamy wine with aromas of toasted coconut and almond. These rich aromas give way to caramelized notes of roasted pineapple and citrus, making this Limited Release white wine both tropical and spicy with a great mouthfeel and a punch of bright acidity.
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.
Versatile and food-friendly Fumé Blanc is an excellent wine for a picnic or casual dinner at home. It pairs beautifully with a variety of dishes, from grilled chicken and shrimp to trout almondine, pistachio pesto pizza with burrata, navel oranges, ruby red grapefruit, and pecorino cheese.
Pair Biltmore Estate Limited Release Gewürztraminer with a variety of flavors.
Though often considered German in origin, Gewürztraminer grapes also have deep roots in Italy and the Alsace region of France. As a wine, it can range in flavor from lightly sweet to dry, making it an excellent choice with a wide range of foods.
Our off-dry Gewürztraminer offers a fragrant bouquet of lychee, apple, and roses, and will delight your palate with slightly spiced notes of honeydew and key lime.
Vibrant and refreshing with a good balance of sweetness and acidity, it pairs well with Caesar salad, Thai dishes, mahi fish tacos, calamari, cheesecake, and key lime pie. Turn a weeknight dinner into something special with this wine and an order of your favorite spicy Asian takeout.
Savor summer with Biltmore Estate® Limited Release white wines
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 available on the estate, online, or through the Vanderbilt Wine Club®.
The Railcar Red Wine is handcrafted as a powerful complement to George Vanderbilt’s railroad ties.
The Railcar red wine runs smooth
“The Railcar is a distinctive red wine crafted predominantly of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petite Sirah, and Merlot,” said Biltmore Winemaker Sharon Fenchak. “I selected fruit from our vineyard partners in Paso Robles and Lake County—two outstanding grape-growing regions in California’s wine country.”
As soon as you uncork The Railcar, you’ll experience its earthy bouquet that includes hints of caramel, vanilla, plum, black cherry, and baking spice.
Savor The Railcar with barbecue, smoked meats, and pasta with red sauce.
On tasting this medium-to-large bodied garnet-colored wine, you’ll discover bright cherry, plum, and dried fruit flavors up front, a bit of spice, and nice full tannins that make it an excellent pairing partner with barbecue, smoked meats, and pasta with red sauce.
Creating a distinctive label
“When we first talked about creating this wine, we knew it would need a special label that showcased how distinctive it is,” Sharon said. “With that in mind, we reached out to Asheville artist Bryan Koontz to see what he envisioned for The Railcar.”
Bryan refines his graphite concept sketches for The Railcar red wine
Getting on track with a local artist
In addition to being an an exceptional artist who created original artwork for the labels of several of our Christmas at Biltmore Wines and our Biltmore Masterpiece Collection labels, Bryan is a train aficionado whose detailed illustrations of trains have appeared in books depicting the historic development of railroads in this country.
Transitioning from graphite to watercolor
Concepts and sketches
He’s particularly knowledgeable about the types of steam engines that would have been in use in George Vanderbilt’s day, and he drew on that knowledge to create several concepts that he began to refine with a final destination in mind.
“I knew about George Vanderbilt’s railway connections,” said Bryan, “and that he had his own private railcar. That was the height of luxury at that time, to commission a custom-made railcar and travel in style anywhere a train could take you!”
Bryan’s initial concepts and early sketches were rendered in graphite pencil to provide the crisp clarity that characterizes his work. It’s a medium that lends itself to creating all the tiny details of a vintage steam engine.
Refining the details
Bryan at work on the label in his studio
As the concept was refined toward its final iteration, Bryan used watercolors to bring the engine, its cars, and the surrounding landscape to life.
The label nearing completion
The final version looks so real you can almost hear the engine coming down the track toward you—perhaps pulling George Vanderbilt’s private railcar behind it!
Enjoy The Railcar Red Wine
Look for a new vintage of The Railcar Red Wine in Spring 2026.
Harken back to the golden age of train travel with a distinctive bottle of The Railcar Red Wine, available at estate shops, online, or close to home with our Wine Finder.
“Cupid’s Richest Captive” was the headline that accompanied the April 1898 announcement of George Vanderbilt’s engagement to Edith Stuyvesant Dresser.
Cupid’s richest captive: George Vanderbilt
Photographic portrait of George Vanderbilt, ca. 1898
At age 36 and the only unmarried son of William Henry Vanderbilt, George was considered America’s most eligible bachelor. Termed “Cupid’s richest captive” by the popular press, the engagement was a leading topic in newspapers of the era.
In comparison, his bride-to-be was a virtual unknown, although her ancestry included Peter Stuyvesant, the first Dutch governor of New York. Edith and her three sisters were popular members of Newport and New York society, and the “Dresser Girls” had lived in Paris after the death of their parents and grandparents.
Ten years younger than her fiancé, Edith was friends with one of George’s sisters and several of his nieces. While reporters speculated the couple became acquainted when she attended Vanderbilt’s 1897 London party for Queen Victoria’s Jubilee, it’s more likely the pair met through match-making family members.
Congratulatory correspondence for “Cupid’s richest captive” and his fiancée
Newspaper clipping of the 1898 Dresser-Vanderbilt wedding program; illustrations were probably made from photographs of the couple.
News of the springtime engagement brought letters of congratulations from Vanderbilt’s friends, and we are fortunate to have some of the correspondence in our archives.
Author Paul Leicester Ford, who stayed at Biltmore several times and dedicated one of his most popular novels to George Vanderbilt, penned the following:
“My dear George, I am very glad. Marriage is quite good enough for you, and is one of the few really fine things you haven’t had in your life. I wish I knew Miss Dresser better, but the mere glimpse I had of her was enough to make me like her, and time will perhaps fulfill my wish. That you both have my every felicitation, and hope for your happiness, need not be said…..It is a pleasure to me to think of you as having this great happiness added to your life. But in the big love, save a little if you can, for your affectionate friend Paul.”
Portrait of George Vanderbilt by John Singer Sargent, ca. 1890; on display above the entrance to the Biltmore House Library.
Artist John Singer Sargent, considered the most successful portrait painter of his era, was one of Vanderbilt’s favorite artists. Six of his works are in Biltmore House, including a portrait of George that hangs above the Library door. On April 28, 1898, he wrote:
“My dear Vanderbilt Please accept my warmest congratulations and best wishes for your engagement, and offer my hommages to the lady…I hope to see you on my way back from Venice… Yours sincerely, John S. Sargent”
Chauncey M. Depew, who served as New York Secretary of State and president of the New York Central Railway, was a family friend who had known George Vanderbilt all his life. On May 13, 1898, he wrote:
“My Dear George, Accept my cordial congratulations on your engagement. Possessing as you do every thing to make a happy home, and Miss Dresser so charmingly forming the complement. Surely the future is (illegible) secure for married life as the fates have arranged it for you… Faithfully yours, Chauncey M. Depew”
On May 19, 1898, David H. Greer sent a letter to George Vanderbilt, who was already in Paris where his June 1 wedding would take place. Greer served as the rector of St. Bartholomew’s Church, New York, from 1888–1904.
“Dear Mr. Vanderbilt — I am sorry I cannot be present to offer my congratulations in person in connection with the happy event which is about to take place in your life; but the steamer that takes your sisters over will hopefully carry this note and enable you to receive it before the wedding.
I have thought of you so long in a state of “single blessedness” that it is a little difficult to imagine you in the double blessedness of matrimony. But it is double blessedness, as I know from my own experience, and I am sure you will find in yours.
With best wishes of a bright future for both of you, believe me, Very sincerely yours, David H. Greer”
Learn more about the Vanderbilts
George and Edith Vanderbilt sitting on the front steps of Buckspring Lodge, their rustic retreat on Mt. Pisgah
After the wedding and a four-month Italian honeymoon, the newlyweds returned to Biltmore to begin their lives together. Learn more about them by visitingThe Vanderbilts at Home and Abroad exhibition at The Biltmore Legacy in Antler Hill Village, included with your estate admission.
Featured photo: Place de Chalelet and Seine River, Paris, circa 1898. George Vanderbilt and Edith Stuyvesant Dresser were engaged in Paris in April 1898.
Spring is the perfect time to choose Biltmore wines, especially if you want to savor the “scent-sations” of our handcrafted varietals that complement the fresh and fragrant aromas of the season.
From soft floral notes like those of a vintage perfume to bright hints of fruit and spice, these wonderful wines will take your senses on an aromatic adventure!
Enjoy warm weather sipping with your favorite aromatic Biltmore wines by the glass or bottle!
Here are our top recommendations for which Biltmore wines you should choose this spring to experience the essence of the season.
Aromatic and refreshing, our 2025 Biltmore Masterpiece Collection White Wine is perfect for spring sipping!
Versatile and food-friendly, our Biltmore® Masterpiece Collection White Wine is a perfect partner for breezy brunches, lunches, and picnics.
The label, featuring original artwork by artist Bryan Koontz of Weaverville, NC, captures the vibrant sunflowers we plant each year to delight you (along with our birds, bees, and butterflies!).
PAIRING TIP:Savor our Masterpiece Collection White Wine with a wide range of options including fish tacos, prosciutto-wrapped fruit and cheese, baked brie with strawberry jam, and pound cake with fresh berries.
Uncork a bottle of this crisp and refreshing white wine and you’ll encounter bright citrus aromas that speak to the return of warmer weather.
PAIRING TIP: With fresh peach flavors and an elegant finish, our Sauvignon Blanc is a perfect partner for light spring and summer fare such as goat cheese, salads, and seafood.
Pack a bottle of Biltmore wine for your next spring picnic–Gewurtztraminer is always a good choice!
If you think red wines are too heavy for the season, just breathe in the elegant cherry aromas of our Sangiovese and you’ll imagine you’ve been transported to spring in the Italian countryside!
The taste—full-bodied with ripe berry flavors intertwined with hints of chocolate—will make you glad you thought outside the red-wine-in-winter box.
PAIRING TIP:For spring, serve our Sangiovese with lighter fare inspired by its Italian origins, including mushroom risotto and pasta with red sauce.
Pas de Deux Sec is perfect for pairing with classic desserts or creating sparkling cocktails!
Semi-sweet and bursting with tiny bubbles, this delightfully aromatic sparkling wine features the essence of orange blossom and flavors of wild strawberry and lemon.
It smells and tastes as if we captured a perfect day in spring and bottled it for you to sip and savor.
PAIRING TIP:Serve Pas de Deux Sec with classic desserts like pound cake and fresh strawberries–or enjoy it in sparkling cocktails!
Spring picnics pair perfectly with your favorite aromatic Biltmore wines!
Stock up on aromatic spring favorites!
We hope this round up of Biltmore’s most aromatic wines helps you breathe new life into your spring wine adventures!
A favorite pastime of Biltmore Blooms is visiting the Azalea Garden—one of the largest selections of native azaleas in the country. The 15-acre garden is home to more than 20,000 plants, offering thousands upon thousands of vivid blooms of white, yellow, orange, and every shade of pink imaginable.
Biltmore’s Azalea Garden in peak bloom
But did you know the Azalea Garden was not actually part of the original plan for the estate?
This parade of color is a culmination of the passion of Chauncey Beadle, an avid azalea collector and horticulturist hired at Biltmore in 1890 who later became the estate superintendent.
Chauncey Beadle, ca. 1906
Beadle and “The Azalea Hunters”
Beginning in 1930, Beadle, along with fellow botanists and friends Frank Crayton and William Knight—aptly called “The Azalea Hunters”—spent countless hours over long weekends and holidays driving through each southeastern state searching for every species, natural hybrid, form, and color of azalea.
Chauncey Beadle in the Azalea Garden, ca. 1948
Beadle maintained his massive personal collection at his farm on the east side of Asheville until 1940, but he knew that he needed to find a home for his azaleas, fondly referred to as his “children,” before he became too old to care for them.
He could think of no better home than the Glen in the valley below Biltmore’s Conservatory and gardens. Edith Vanderbilt Gerry and Judge Junius G. Adams, Biltmore Company president at the time, agreed.
Azalea Garden ceremony, ca. 1940
Establishing the Azalea Garden
In honor of his then fifty years of service to Biltmore, the estate held a celebration for Beadle* on April 1, 1940, in the Glen, which from that day forward would be named the Azalea Garden. All estate employees and their spouses were invited to the event.
Edith Vanderbilt Gerry and Chauncey Beadle, ca. 1940
During the ceremony, Edith unveiled a marker that memorializes Beadle’s lifetime of faithful service and gift of his azaleas to Biltmore.
Join us in celebrating the generosity and genius of Chauncey Beadle with a springtime stroll through the Azalea Garden. Plan your visit today!
Whether you’ve been to Biltmore many times or are just planning your first visit, Spring at Biltmore is a season you won’t want to miss!
Spring traditions of outdoor festivities
Colorful spring blooms in Biltmore’s Shrub Garden
Flowers on parade
Spring was always a special time for the Vanderbiltsas they enjoyed the beauty of Biltmore’s grounds awakening from winter. The return of warmer weather also brought the opportunity to spend more time outdoors and to host garden parties and festivities for family and guests.
Cornelia and Edith Vanderbilt in a carriage decorated with flowers for the 1905 Flower Carriage Parade in Biltmore Village
For several years during Cornelia Vanderbilt’schildhood, her family, along with estate residents and members of the local community, celebrated the season with a parade of flower-decked carriages in Biltmore Village.
A spring wedding surprise
On April 29, 1924, as Cornelia Vanderbilt prepared to marry the Honorable John F.A. Cecil, the gardens of Biltmore were called upon to play an important role in her wedding. Luckily, the acres of beautifully-landscaped shrubs and blooms were up to the task!
Wedding party of John and Cornelia Cecil in the Tapestry Gallery of Biltmore House, 1925
“The flowers for Cornelia’s bridesmaids were ordered from New York, but they did not arrive on the train in time,” said Lizzie Borchers, Biltmore Floral Displays Manager. “So Biltmore’s gardeners came to the rescue, clipping forsythia, tulips, dogwood, quince, and other flowers and wiring them together. They were quite large compositions, twiggy, open, and very beautiful.”
Cornelia’s garden party
Of course, summer was also a wonderful season for garden parties. In August 1925, Cornelia Vanderbilt Cecil celebrated her 25th birthday with an open air ball at 9:30 p.m. in the Italian Garden.
At least 300 guests were invited, and party-goers danced to the Charles Freicher Orchestra amidst the splendor of twinkling lights from Japanese lanterns placed in trees and shrubbery and torches flaring in potted plants.
The Italian Garden pools shimmer with reflections of Biltmore House. Exotic Victoria water platters, canna lilies, papyrus and lotus thrive here in the summer months.
The Asheville Gazette described this garden partyas “among the most elaborate and largest celebrations held at Biltmore House” since the estate was established.
The write-up included details such as “the beautiful array of summer gowns of the many dancers made a scene as beautiful as that of gay moths and fireflies in a fairy garden,” and noted that a buffet supper was served at midnight.
Biltmore blooms each spring
Today, we continue to honor the Vanderbilt traditionsof celebrating spring by bringing the outdoors inside. Look for special floral arrangements throughout Biltmore House during Spring at Biltmore.
At the age of 25, Edith Vanderbilt married the nation’s most eligible bachelor and assumed her role as lady of Biltmore House, responsible for ensuring the comfort and entertainment of Biltmore’s many guests. And yet, she was so much more than a hostess.
Let’s take a look at some of Edith Vanderbilt’s most incredible efforts and achievements.
After George Vanderbilt’s untimely death in 1914, Edith stepped into the role of preserving the estate and its legacy until their only daughter, Cornelia, came of age. During this era, Edith had to make prudent decisions to reduce the costs of maintaining such a grand estate, including completing the sale of Pisgah Forest on George’s behalf. Throughout the years, she refused to sell off the collection of antiques, furnishings, and fine art still seen inside the home today. This dedication to preserving the home and its collection set the stage for future generations.
Students of the Biltmore School of Domestic Science, ca. 1901
Biltmore School of Domestic Science
In 1901, Edith Vanderbilt established the Biltmore School of Domestic Science, which trained young Black women in professional housekeeping. The intention behind this initiative was two-fold: to help satisfy the increasing demand for efficient domestic service in the area at the time, and—more importantly to Edith—to help women with socio-economic challenges to become gainfully employed.
Coursework covered the duties of a maid, waitress, laundress, cook, and housekeeper; if a student showed a preference for a special line of work, she was given the necessary training to develop that skillset. Additionally, the school created a network to increase its graduates’ prospects of finding work:
“The graduating classes form a society for houseworkers. The purpose of this society is mutual help, by raising the respect of the general public for such work and workers…Any positions that are vacant if in good families will be reported, and an effort be made to fill them from among the members of the society.”
— The Home Science Magazine, Volume XX, October 1903–March 1904
Archival list of 1906 Biltmore Estate Exhibition prize winners and first and second prize ribbons
Biltmore Estate Exhibition
In order to nurture a sense of community among estate employees and their families, Edith organized the Biltmore Estate Exhibition, also referred to as the annual fair, in 1905. She distributed seeds as needed to all of the employees to ensure everyone could participate in the competitions.
Some of the initial categories included vegetables and herbs, field crops, domestic products such as breads and preserves, needlework, and baskets. Categories later expanded to include flowers, hogs, and poultry as well as a miscellaneous category to include eggs, honey, and various other items. Prizes included ribbons and a variety of garden books.
Though Edith was in London during the 1907 event, estate superintendent Chauncey Beadle wrote to her:
“Not another day shall pass without a full report to you of the Exhibition, which was celebrated in the grove above the Farm Cottages yesterday afternoon with the most auspicious weather that it was possible to have. The attendance and exhibits were very satisfactory, and, I believe all who participated enjoyed the day, the social intercourse and objects which were displayed.”
Thanks to oral histories, we know that the fairs continued into the 1940s.
Students of the Biltmore Dairy Moonlight School, ca. 1920s (Photo courtesy of the McCarson Family)
Biltmore Dairy Moonlight School
In 1914, Edith founded the Biltmore Dairy Moonlight School to teach illiterate estate workers how to read and write. Her larger intention was to attack the underlying causes of economic inequality and disenfranchisement. Classes were taught by Columbia University interns and graduates, who were receiving arguably the best teacher training in the nation at the time.
Edith Vanderbilt personally selected the textbook used at the school and even taught a class from time to time:
“It is an interesting picture: one of the world’s richest women… teaching dairy workers how to read and write in a horse barn in the mountains of North Carolina.”
— “Aristocracy and Appalachia: Edith Vanderbilt and Her Moonlight School” (2011) by Wilkie L. Whitney
While Biltmore’s was certainly not the first moonlight school, the model Edith pioneered was so effective, it inspired the foundation of many similar programs across North Carolina—all with the support of Edith as their most vocal advocate.
Edith Vanderbilt (second from right) and her fellow Red Cross volunteers, ca. 1917–1919 (Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress: American National Red Cross Collection)
Red Cross efforts during the Great War
When the United States became involved in the first World War, Edith Vanderbilt was splitting her time between Biltmore and Washington, DC—but no matter where she was, she always found ways to support the Red Cross during this turbulent time.
While in Asheville, she sponsored a golf tournament to raise funds for the Red Cross.
“The trophy was the gift of Mrs. Edith Vanderbilt, the rules providing that all entrance fees went to the Red Cross, and that no trophies should be given unless donated.“
— “Carolina Mountains Having Great Season,” The Times Dispatch, 19 August 1917
While in Washington, DC, she volunteered with the Red Cross as part of a Canteen Unit, which provided hot coffee, light refreshments, and mail services to troops at railroad junctions. True to form, Edith was recognized for going above and beyond at her Canteen’s encampment:
“Mrs. George Vanderbilt is quite wonderful, so cool and collected and executive. She took her motor and went off shopping, bought some extra equipment, a table for the tent to hold the telephone, some camp chairs, a rake to rake up the trash, a pump to pump the water into the cauldron, a mail bag, stamps, wire baskets; besides, she organized the post-office.”
— Presidents and Pies: Life in Washington 1897–1919 (1920) by Isabel Anderson
Archival photo of Governor Cameron Morrison (center) and Edith Vanderbilt (right) inspecting troops at the NC State Fair, October 1921
First female president of the North Carolina Agricultural Society
In 1920, Edith Vanderbilt was elected the first female president of the North Carolina Agricultural Society as well as the 60th State Fair. Her first address in the role was one for the books.
“Anti-suffragists who have feared woman’s entrance into politics found themselves happy today when Mrs. Edith Vanderbilt made about the smartest 15-minute speech to a joint session of the general assembly heard within the historic walls of the state house in a long time…explaining in the outset that it would be like the modern skirt, to the extent that its length would cover the subject and its brevity attract attention. She was right.”
— “Woman Makes First Address to Legislature,” The Charlotte Observer, 3 February 1921
Under her leadership, the State Fair focused more on agriculture as opposed to sideshows. Edith traveled and wrote widely to promote the event and help attract exhibitors. She also led initiatives to improve the fairgrounds.
She would ultimately be re-elected to lead the 1922, 1923, and 1924 fairs, and then continued to serve on the executive committee following her tenure as president.
Edith Vanderbilt (center) and her daughter Cornelia (left of center) greet guests arriving in Biltmore Village, ca. 1924
More than a hostess
Beyond her duties as wife, mother, and lady of the house, Edith Vanderbilt felt a great responsibility towards her community. She was passionate about education, agriculture, and literacy. She was active in civic affairs at the local, state, and national level. Perhaps most impressive, she used her privilege to support those in need and the causes in which she so strongly believed.
Cheers to this extraordinary woman!
Feature image: Edith Vanderbilt gathering letters from soldiers while volunteering for the Red Cross, ca. 1918 (Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress: American National Red Cross Collection)
Each spring, thousands upon thousands of beautiful and brightly colored tulips fill the formal flowerbeds of Biltmore’s Walled Garden pattern beds.
But preparation for the vibrant showcase actually begins long before warmer weather arrives! In fact, planting for spring in the Walled Garden begins months before you see the results. One reason we get continuous color is that we plant several varieties of up to six bulbs per hole!
Let’s take a look at the history of tulips in Biltmore’s Walled Garden.
The Vegetable and Flower Garden (now the Walled Garden), cica 1895
Change of Plans: The Vegetable and Flower Garden
Landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstedoriginally envisioned the Walled Garden as a multipurpose space, providing fine fruits and vegetables as well as fresh flowers for Biltmore House. The design was inspired by English kitchen gardens, which were often walled to protect them from wind and wild animals.
George Vanderbilt, however, did not share this vision. Instead, he thought the Walled Garden should be one of “ornament, not utility.” While fruits and vegetables were grown there intermittently, most of them were gradually phased out over time.
Honoring Vanderbilt’s Dutch Heritage
Tulips have served as a status symbol for the Dutch since the height of “Tulip Mania” in the mid-1600s when speculation on rare bulbs created an investment bubble and the price of one bulb was equal to ten years of income.
The showy flower was perhaps chosen for the dramatic beds of the Walled Garden as an homage to the Dutch heritage of the Vanderbilts—and the term “Biltmore.”
Fun Fact: Biltmore’s name derives from “Bildt,” the town inHollandwhere George Vanderbilt’s ancestors originated, and “more,” an Old English word for open, rolling land.
Tulips in the Walled Garden, circa 1930
First Signs of Tulips in the Walled Garden
It is difficult to say exactly when tulips first made their debut in the Walled Garden. However, one letter in our archives tells us the blooming bulbs have been planted there for almost a century.
“The tulips in the walled garden are so glorious that we are trying out an experiment of sending you a box today by express for Easter. We shall hope they will bring you something of their original beauty and charm to make Easter even more wonderful. Spring is very much advanced here, even the yellow rambler roses are opening.“
Situated between Biltmore House and the Conservatory, the Walled Garden features geometric pattern beds that come alive with vibrant hues of tulips each spring.
The Tradition of Tulips Continues
Tulips in Biltmore’s Walled Garden have long been a favorite element of the season. Even before Biltmore House opened to the public in 1930, the Vanderbilts allowed some public access to the area a few days a week during spring so that locals and out-of-state visitors alike could enjoy estate gardens in bloom.
This tradition continues today with Spring at Biltmore, our seasonal celebration of the estate’s ever-changing progression of springtime blooms.
Plan your visit today and join us as we delight in the more than 80,000 tulip bulbs that lend their dramatic color to the Walled Garden!
