Preparing Biltmore’s Historic Gardens for Fall Posted on September 7, 2019 at 12:00 am.Written by Jean Sexton The task list is long in Stacey Weir’s weekly planner this time of year as she and her crew begin preparing Biltmore’s historic gardens for fall. As Horticulture Manager, Stacey and her team must focus on putting the gardens to bed after the long, lush days of summer are done. Preparations for fall begin during late summer in Biltmore’s historic gardens “The landscape has delighted our guests all season with a showy tribute to Frederick Law Olmsted’s original landscape scheme,” said Stacey, “but now it’s time to be preparing Biltmore’s historic gardens for fall.” The ever-changing gardens require meticulous note-taking and calendar-minding to stay on track for the next season… and the next and the next. It’s challenging for Stacey to summarize what her team does to get the gardens ready for fall and winter, but she shares some of the main tasks below–and notes that you can follow the Biltmore team’s lead in your own garden at home. Fall tasks at hand After Labor Day, tropical plants will be returned to the Conservatory “One of our first tasks for preparing Biltmore’s historic gardens for fall begins just after Labor Day,” Stacey said. “Our crews will be busy pulling all of the tropical plants that have been on display during warmer weather.” That means the massive terra cotta planters filled with elephant ears that line the front of Biltmore House and other areas are being emptied and stored for next summer. “Some crew members will suit up in waders to work in the Italian Garden pools where tropical lilies and enormous Victorian lily pads are just finishing their blooming season,” said Stacey. “The crew will weed out the remains and clean the ponds.” A gardener dons waders to work in the Italian Garden pools. In addition, Stacey notes that height pruning in the floral pattern beds and borders of the Walled Garden is a priority in order to keep leaf drop manageable as the winds pick up with seasonal change. Perennials are cut back to ensure good growth for spring. “We’ll lift the dahlia bulbs out of the ground in the Walled Garden’s Victorian border to allow the soil to dry naturally,” Stacey said. “The bulbs will be placed in a cool dry place to store over winter to be replanted in the spring.” Mum’s the word in the Walled Garden Vibrant mums are a sure sign of fall in the Walled Garden. Biltmore’s signature fall color flower display of mums will also be planted in the Walled Garden pattern beds. The mums will begin showing glorious color in late September and early October, with peak bloom around the second or third week of October. “We usually plan a warm-toned color scheme for fall, with shades of orange, golden yellow, and deep reds and purples,” noted Stacey. Fall leaves become a part of Biltmore soil The beautiful fall colors of the Azalea Garden. Credit: The Biltmore Company As temperatures cool and the leaves begin to change color, just like at your house, there’s leaf management to consider. The horticulture crew embarks on several leaf clean-ups throughout the season to minimize final clean-up at the end of the season. Crews collect the leaves and use them for compost, or they put the leaves in to a tub grinder with woody debris and grind everything to use for soil. Any leftovers are used in a compost that’s made with herbaceous debris, which is broadcast in the field crops and food plots throughout estate property. Christmas and winter work Poinsettias being grown in the production house at the Conservatory A portion of the poinsettias used during our annual Christmas at Biltmore displays are grown in the production house near the Conservatory. Planted in July, the poinsettias begin to pop up in early fall. A selection of the full-grown plants will be placed in Biltmore House, while the others will decorate the Conservatory. In early October, the Conservatory team will also plant tulip bulbs in pots in order to have tulip bloom and color “under glass” by Valentine’s Day in mid-February. Looking ahead to Biltmore Blooms Tulips are a sure sign of spring at Biltmore And then, there are the tulips which herald the start of Spring at Biltmore celebrations. To enjoy vivid blooms in April, the bulbs must be planted in November just before Thanksgiving. Actual planting days are based on temperatures to avoid planting when the ground is frozen. “Each fall, our crews plant thousands upon thousands of bulbs including tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths in the Walled Garden and across the estate. When spring arrives, the total number of blooms is breathtaking!” said Stacey. The matrix A hand-drawn sketch shows details of a planting in the Conservatory To keep track of every plant—from seed to taking them out of the production house to putting them in the ground—all of these timetables and tasks are organized on paper. The plans include a “priority matrix” that the gardeners have developed through the years to determine which tasks to focus on first depending on factors such as guest-facing locations and type of plant. Otherwise, “It’s all a jumbled mess in your head,” Stacey said, She’s quick to add that when you’re working in the gardens season after season, the memory naturally retains the details. Gardeners are constantly thinking several steps ahead of the task at hand. “In horticulture, everything effects the next thing,” said Stacey. “Perennial-wise you have to make allowances now to have success in the spring. Everything has the continual life span of birth and rebirth almost.” Plan your fall getaway today Plan your spectacular fall getaway to Biltmore today! From colorful leaves to crisp days and cool nights, there’s no better time to enjoy a visit to Biltmore than during the fall season. Plan your getaway today.
Decanting Downton Posted on August 20, 2019 at 1:51 pm.Written by Jean Sexton Downton Abbey: The Exhibition ended September 7, 2020. Please enjoy this archived content. In honor of hosting Downton Abbey: The Exhibition through September 7, 2020, we thought it would be fascinating to look at Downton Abbey—and Biltmore’s own history—through the lens of a wine bottle. A thoughtful collector We know that George Vanderbilt was a thoughtful wine collector in his own right, and he also relied upon the services of professional wine purveyor Alexander Morten who was well-known for his excellent taste and recommendations. To learn more about the process of procuring and preparing wines in the late 19th century, we turned to Jeff Plack, business development manager for Biltmore Wines and a wine aficionado in general, to “pour out” what he knows about the subject. March 12, 1913: list of wines in Biltmore’s cellar The business of wine “I love the fact that in the new Downton Abbey feature film–and in many episodes of the six-season PBS Masterpiece series—the characters were sipping wine at some point,” said Jeff. “Wine consumption was a direct measure of one’s wealth in that era and it was not unusual for large estates to have thousands of bottles in their cellars. At that time, the wines were mostly French.” Jeff explains that Mr. Carson, the Crawley family’s beloved butler in the series, would have been largely responsible for the wines served at Downton Abbey. “The family might have taken an active interest in wine,” Jeff said, “but the butler was generally the person who oversaw the supply and prepared the wines for the dinner table. Decanting wines This formal place setting on the Banquet Hall table features six pieces of crystal, including a champagne coupe and a cordial glass for port or sherry In one episode of the series, Carson is seen decanting wine using an interesting contraption. “It’s appropriately called a decanting machine or cradle,” said Jeff. “The cradle holds the wine as someone turns a crank which slowly pours the wine out of the bottle.” In the scene, Carson is using a lighted candle behind the bottle to help him see any sediment in the wine. This technique, along with a piece of muslin over the decanter, would help filter out impurities. (Note: the featured image for this blog shows the decanting cradle in Mr. Carson’s pantry as part of Downton Abbey: The Exhibition currently hosted at Biltmore.) The circle of wine For wealthy households like the one depicted in Downton Abbey, the variety of wines consumed at dinner made a circle of sorts. A delicate silver and glass wine decanter from the Biltmore collection “Evenings would usually begin with port or sherry and possibly a glass of champagne as an apéritif,” said Jeff. “Each subsequent course of the dinner would be paired with a different wine.” Our Mariporta is a port-style dessert wine reminiscent of the ones the Vanderbilts might have enjoyed According to Jeff, wine pairings were different than the ones we make today. A common practice of the era was to serve a white Burgundy (generally a Chardonnay) with the first course and then a red Bordeaux with the main meal. “It was less about the science of which wines ‘go with’ or complement which foods, and more about wines that they preferred,” Jeff said. “For dessert, they would move back to something like port, similar to our Mariporta Red Dessert Wine, and then end with sparkling wine again; a happy circle of wine life.” Our handcrafted Biltmore bubbles make any occasion more special With modern winemaking techniques, we no longer need to use decanting machines and filters, and though we enjoy pairing wines based on qualities such as acidity and tannins, we also love complementing favorite flavors with wines we enjoy. Savor Biltmore Wines Join us at the Winery for complimentary tastings of our award-winning wines. You can purchase Biltmore wines at most estate shops or online. In addition, experience Downton Abbey: The Exhibition hosted in two locations on estate grounds, November 8, 2019–April 7, 2020.
Comparing Biltmore House to Downton Abbey Posted on August 18, 2019 at 2:01 pm.Written by Amy Dangelico Downton Abbey: The Exhibition ended September 7, 2020. Please enjoy this archived content. Did you know everyday life in Biltmore House bore striking resemblance to fictional life at Downton Abbey? In honor of Biltmore playing host to Downton Abbey: The Exhibition, let’s take a look at some of the similarities—and differences—between these two grand homes. Archival image of estate workers during harvest season at Biltmore, ca. 1900 A Working Estate The greatest overarching parallel between Downton Abbey and Biltmore is the idea of both as working estates overseen by one man and his family. While Downton Abbey is set in England, George Vanderbilt’s vision for Biltmore was heavily influenced by the model of similar English estates. There were numerous tenant families working the land, and the Vanderbilts grew to know each of these families closely over the years. The Servants’ Hall in Biltmore House, where staff could relax and socialize Household Staff Within the houses, the standards of domestic service were much the same between the Crawleys and the Vanderbilts. While there were some differences in the ways American and English households were managed, the housekeeper played a major role. At Biltmore, this role was primarily filled by Mrs. King; for Downton Abbey, it’s Mrs. Hughes—both known for their massive house key rings and calm demeanors. Detail of electrical switchboard in the sub-basement of Biltmore House Technological Advancements Though numerous characters within the Downton Abbey household, both above stairs and below, expressed concerns about advancements in technology, they were widely embraced at Biltmore. Even in 1895, Biltmore House was constructed with many of these in mind: telephones, elevators, forced heating, mechanical refrigeration, an electric servant call bell system, electric lighting, and more. Restoring the wallcovering of the Louis XV Room in Biltmore House Preserving the Home One of the primary themes in Downton Abbey is the importance Lord Grantham and his family place on preserving and maintaining their home for succeeding generations. This has also been a prime concern at Biltmore for George Vanderbilt’s descendants. Today, the estate is owned and overseen by the fourth and fifth generations of the family. Join us November 8, 2019 through April 7, 2020 to experience Downton Abbey like never before—amid George Vanderbilt’s magnificent estate—with Downton Abbey: The Exhibition at Biltmore. Feature image: Biltmore House, ca. 1910
Discover Biltmore Wines From Grape to Glass Posted on July 30, 2019 at 1:55 pm.Written by Jean Sexton How do we select the finest fruit for Biltmore wines? Here’s an overview of the process, from grape to glass! Sourcing fine North Carolina vintages In his book Lady On The Hill, George Vanderbilt‘s grandson William A.V. Cecil noted that “Asheville was about the same latitude as Gibraltar in the Mediterranean, and with an altitude between 2,100 and 2,500 feet, the fields of the estate would enjoy warm days and cool nights in the summer.” While the climate of Western North Carolina is not nearly as predictable as that of the Mediterranean or other major grape-growing regions, when conditions are right, the fruit produced in our estate vineyards is exceptional and earns the Biltmore® Reserve label for our finest North Carolina vintages. To ensure we can meet the growing demand for Biltmore wines, however, we also look to our local vineyard partners in Polk County—a lower-elevation region just south of Asheville that experiences slightly warmer temperatures with less danger of late season frost damage. Enjoy the fruits of our labor, by the glass, on the Farm to Table Tour. Beyond Biltmore We also look to our west coast partners for the quality and consistency of grapes needed to handcraft our award-winning wines. Several times each year, Biltmore winemaker Sharon Fenchak schedules extended visits to California to meet with our growing partners and select outstanding vintages for Biltmore wines. “Some of the finest American wine grapes come from the vineyards of coastal California,” Sharon said. “The terroir—the different combinations of weather and soil in each hill and valley—translate into the distinctive flavors and qualities that characterize the wines of that region.” Harvest preparation is one of the busiest times of the year for vineyards and the wineries. California’s Northern Coast This large wine grape-growing region is located north of San Francisco, with a maritime climate that is affected by cool fogs and breezes from the Pacific Ocean. Some of California’s best-known American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), including Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Lake County, Napa, and Russian River Valley, are located here. “This AVA is an important one for our Vanderbilt Reserve® series,” said Sharon. “We select grapes from outstanding partner vineyards for some of our most distinctive wines, including our Vanderbilt Reserve Merlot Dry Creek Valley, Vanderbilt Reserve Pinot Noir Sonoma County, Antler Hill Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, and The Hunt Red Blend Sonoma County.” 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. California’s Central Coast Stretching from San Francisco Bay south to Santa Barbara County, this region offers a warmer climate that still benefits from the cooling influences of the Pacific Ocean. We partner with vineyards from such prestigious AVAs as Arroyo Seco, Cienega Valley, Monterey, and Paso Robles. “Some of the more unusual varietals we choose from partner vineyards here include Barbera, Marsanne, Mourvedre, Rousanne, and Tempranillo,” Sharon noted. The central coast wine region is one of California’s most fascinating wine regions and is also home to some of the most prestigious wineries in the country. Washington A wide range of grapes are now being grown in the fertile valleys of Washington, making the state an important producer of outstanding wine varietals. Vineyards are found primarily in the eastern half of the state that benefits from a dryer shrub-steppe ecosystem and the rain shadow of the Cascade Range. The state experiences long hours of daylight—approximately two more hours per day during the growing season than California—and milder, more consistent temperatures. “We are excited to be working with some great partner vineyards in Washington,” said Sharon. “We’re selecting a lot of excellent grapes for our American Series and Limited Release Series wines.” With 1,050+ wineries, 400+ grape growers, and 60,000+ acres of wine grapes, Washington State is the 2nd largest wine producing state in the U.S. Handcrafting our award-winning wines While Sharon and her team handcraft the majority of our wines from start to finish at Biltmore’s Winery in Asheville, North Carolina, our Vanderbilt Reserve® wines and Antler Hill wines are created in the particular region where they were grown. This painstaking process is overseen—from selecting the vintage and expressing the varietal character to aging the wine—by Sharon during her visits to California. “All our wines represent the Vanderbilt family’s legacy of gracious hospitality on which Biltmore was founded,” Sharon said, “and as Biltmore’s winemaker, I am committed to handcrafting our wines with the philosophy of keeping each one true to varietal character and consistent from vintage to vintage. Whether I’m at work in North Carolina or California or Washington, I’m focused on creating wines that reflect the quality of this family-owned estate and Winery.” Beautifully balanced Dry Riesling, crisp Sauvignon Blanc, refreshing Pinot Grigio, and smooth, oaky Chardonnay are just a few of the white wines available in Biltmore’s Wine Portfolio. Discover our exceptional wines for yourself Visit Biltmore’s Winery, purchase online, or find them close to home with our Retailer Locator.
Painting with Plants in Biltmore’s Conservatory Posted on July 18, 2019 at 1:36 pm.Written by Jean Sexton From brilliant bromeliads to elegant orchids, painting with plants in Biltmore’s Conservatory is how Todd Roy, Conservatory Horticulturist, describes his work. A breathtaking display of bromeliads and orchids in the Conservatory Caring for Biltmore’s Plants Todd Roy checks plantings behind the Conservatory Caring for this glorious garden under glass—filled with tropical treasures from around the world—is no easy task, but Todd enjoys his work in such exotic surroundings. “It takes a lot of effort to keep the Conservatory looking so lush and beautiful,” said Todd. “All these plant species have different moisture needs, so we spend the first several hours of each day watering everything by hand—it helps us keep a close eye on the thousands of plants in our care.” Tropical Plant Treasures Pink anthurium thrive in the Conservatory Todd has been part of Biltmore’s Conservatory staff for the more than four years. Prior to joining the estate, he worked as a horticulturalist for a historic estate in southwest Florida, which gave him an appreciation for tropical plantings. “I focus on adding to the diversity of what we offer in the Conservatory,” Todd said. “We have some palms that are very old, and some Cycads that date back to the time of the Vanderbilts, but we’re always adding new things for guests to discover and enjoy.” Painting with Plants Todd incorporates colorful foliage into his designs Along with his horticultural skills, Todd has a background in fine art, including painting and photography. His work in the Conservatory gives him a living canvas for expressing his creativity. A hand-drawn sketch shows details of a planting in the Conservatory “From flowers to foliage, there are so many colors and textures to work with that it really is like ‘painting with plants’. My designs often begin with the color and pattern of foliage and how I can best create multi-level displays that intrigue our guests and engage their imagination,” said Todd. A special project in 2019 In 2019, Biltmore Gardens Railway included this replica of the Bass Pond spillway in the Conservatory In addition to his regular responsibilities, Todd was instrumental in preparing the Conservatory to host Biltmore Gardens Railway in 2019. The charming botanical model train display featured replicas of estate landmarks, handcrafted in meticulous detail from such all-natural elements as leaves, bark, and twigs. “Once the structures and the trains were installed, we had to create displays around them that both complemented the exhibition and showcased the Conservatory itself as one of Biltmore’s historic gardens,” Todd said. “It was an enormous project, but our guests really enjoyed it!” Biltmore Gardens Railway returns in 2020 Biltmore Gardens Railway in Antler Hill Village Biltmore Gardens Railway returns to Biltmore this summer; you can enjoy it in Antler Hill Village from July 7 through September 7, 2020. This year, the botanical model train display will showcase iconic American railway stations, some of which have ties to the Vanderbilt family. Featured blog image: Todd Roy displays a brilliantly-colored bromeliad in Biltmore’s Conservatory
Biltmore Gardens Railway: A Structural Comparison Posted on July 7, 2019 at 1:10 pm.Written by designsensory Twice a year, the Conservatory is transformed into a wonderland of creativity. Discover Biltmore Gardens Railway, featuring miniature estate landmark replicas made of all-natural materials gathered from Biltmore’s grounds. Biltmore Gardens Railway brings an elaborate G-scale railway with locomotives, rail cars, and handmade buildings to life by connecting them to Biltmore and its founder George Vanderbilt. Working from original plans, drawings, and photographs of the estate, a team from Applied Imagination constructs the replicas in a stunningly accurate reimagining of Biltmore. Let’s take an up-close look at the attention to detail paid to the recreations of these historic structures. Image 1: Photograph of the Lodge Gate from George Vanderbilt’s collection, ca. 1900 Image 2: Applied Imagination’s recreation, on display in the Conservatory’s Exhibition Room About the Lodge Gate Recreation Materials collected from the estate: horse chestnut, magnolia leaves, pine bark, hickory nuts, lotus pods, contorted Filbert, bamboo, winged bean, pine cone scales, and acorn caps Dimensions: 28”x22”x15” Time to complete: 275+ hours Image 1: Photograph of the Conservatory from George Vanderbilt’s collection, ca. 1910 Image 2: Applied Imagination’s recreation, on display in the Conservatory’s Orchid Room About the Conservatory Recreation Materials collected from the estate: horse chestnut, pine bark, anise, honeysuckle, ash, winged euonymus, contorted Filbert, and oak bark Dimensions: 21”x52”x14” Time to complete: 350+ hours Image 1: Photograph of Biltmore House from George Vanderbilt’s collection, ca. 1910 Image 2: Applied Imagination’s recreation, on display in the Conservatory’s Palm House About the Biltmore House Recreation Materials collected from the estate: baby acorns, acorn caps, star anise, pine cone, contorted Filbert, grapevine, honeysuckle, eucalyptus leaves, bamboo, ash bark, oak bark, and elm bark Dimensions: 66”x122”x55” Time to complete: 1700+ hours Visit Biltmore Gardens Railway The enchantment of Biltmore Gardens Railway is a semi-annual event at Biltmore. Check our event listing for upcoming dates and plan your visit today!
Summer Entertaining in 3 Easy Steps: Chill, Grill, and Thrill! Posted on July 6, 2019 at 12:00 am.Written by Jean Sexton Summer entertaining is as easy as chill, grill, and thrill! Summer entertaining with the Vanderbilts Enjoy warm weather sipping with your favorite aromatic Biltmore wines by the glass or bottle! At Biltmore, summer entertaining was a favorite pastime for the Vanderbilts and their guests. From birthday parties in the Rose Garden to picnics on the grassy slopes of Mt. Pisgah, warm weather offered the perfect excuse to leave formal dining behind and enjoy a gathering in the great outdoors. Chill, Grill, and Thrill Inspired by their example, here are three easy “chill, grill, and thrill” steps to simplify your summer entertaining whether you’re in the kitchen, on the porch, by the pool—or wherever your plans take you. Chill out with a hearty red wine like our Biltmore Estate Limited Release Malbec and round out the easy meal with a green salad 1) CHILL First, let’s start with an easy recipe for Grilled Skirt Steak with Tomatillo Salsa created by our Biltmore chefs to take advantage of summer’s bumper crop of tomatillos and heirloom tomatoes. Grilled Skirt Steak with Tomatillo Salsa Ingredients 2 pounds trimmed skirt steak (can substitute 4 ribeye steaks)10 fresh tomatillos, husks removed and tomatillos quartered8 cloves fresh garlic3 green onions, roughly chopped1 large shallot, peeled and roughly chopped1 bunch fresh cilantro with stems and leaves1 bunch parsley with stems and leaves1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves3 tablespoons salt1 tablespoon ground black pepper1 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional; use to taste)1/4 cup extra virgin olive oilOptional for serving: heirloom tomatoes, quartered; olive oil; fresh lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste MethodThe salsa doubles as a marinade for the steak, so prepare it first by combining tomatillos, garlic, onions, shallot, herbs, seasonings, and olive oil in a blender and blending until smooth. Reserve 1/2 cup of the tomatillo salsa for garnish. Place steak and marinade in a large zip-top bag and allow to marinate for 1–3 hours in the refrigerator. Tips for chilling While chilling the meat, select your favorite wine and chill about 20 minutes prior to serving with the meal. Winemaker Sharon Fenchak recommends serving Biltmore Estate Limited Release Malbec—a rich, fruit-forward red wine featuring intense spice, blueberry, and plum aromas—with this recipe. 2) GRILL Grilled Skirt Steak with Tomatillo Salsa Grill marinated steaks on medium-high heat for 3–5 minutes on each side for medium-rare. When done to your liking, remove steak from the grill and put it on a clean cutting board or platter to rest while you finish the rest of your preparations. Tips for grilling While the grill heats, prepare a green salad to accompany the meal. After the steak is done, split and toast a couple of baguettes on the still-hot grill to serve with the salad (and soak up those heirloom tomato juices). 3) THRILL Enjoy summer sipping and entertaining outdoors with your favorite Biltmore wines Slice the steak and top with reserved salsa. Dress quartered heirloom tomatoes with olive oil, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Arrange around the steak. Tips for thrilling Bring the entire entrée to the table on the cutting board—no need to transfer to another dish. Use a chiller filled with a mix of ice and water to keep your wine cool, especially if you’re eating outdoors. Gather your guests Cheers to the chill, grill, and thrill of summer entertaining Enjoy the chill, grill, and thrill of summer entertaining—plus delicious dining—done the easy way! Discover more delicious Biltmore recipes and find our award-winning wines online.
Exploring Biltmore’s Conservatory in Asheville, NC Posted on June 6, 2019 at 1:03 pm.Written by Judy Ross Imagine the luxury of having a house full of tropical plants to delight your senses—ranging from 40-foot palms to four-inches tall bromeliads. George and Edith Vanderbilt enjoyed that experience with Biltmore’s Conservatory, a beautifully designed greenhouse built for nurturing plants. Beneath its expansive glass roof, the Conservatory contains hundreds of plant varieties grown in several purposefully designed spaces, including the Orchid Room, Hot House, and Cool House. From spring to late summer, the Biltmore Gardens Railway is on display. The seasonal botanical model train display features small-scale replicas of the estate’s structures and includes approximately 800 feet of miniature rails. Palm House at Biltmore As you enter into this section of the Conservatory, you’ll immediately see why it was designated as the Palm House on architect Richard Morris Hunt‘s original plans. The grand space rises 40-feet high and contains our tallest plants, including the Queen Palm and Golden Hawaiian Bamboo that reach to the ceiling. Other notable specimens are the Mast Tree, a tall and narrow tree species once used to build ship masts, and the broadest plants in the building: Silver Bismark Palms, spreading 15 to 20 feet wide. Orchid Room at Biltmore To the left of the Palm House is the Orchid Room, filled with exotic orchid blooms in myriad colors and forms. There are more than 1,000 orchid plants in the Conservatory’s collection, ranging from the familiar corsage and lady slipper varieties to rare examples that perfume the air with tantalizing fragrance. Our year-round orchid display is made possible by Biltmore’s expansive collection. Blooming orchids are rotated into the room year-round, ensuring an endless show of color. Exhibit Room From over-the-top spring floral designs to a holiday wonderland, the Exhibit Room to the right of the Palm House hosts seasonally changing displays. This is a favorite location for guests to capture photos year-round. Hot House at Biltmore You might recognize some of the residents of the Hot House, as the tropical environment promotes the lush growth of philodendrons, pothos, and other species sold as popular houseplants. Cool House at Biltmore This is a subtropical zone, featuring Australian tree ferns, banana trees, and the aptly-named Lollipop plants and Shrimp plants. Note the overachieving Thai Giant Elephant Ear; with leaves 4–5 feet long, this plant has the biggest leaves in the Conservatory. Alleys Each summer, the alleyways adjoining the Hot House and Cool House are filled with plants for guests to enjoy. The Hot Alley features Bromeliads, while the Cool Alley showcases plants from the ginger and Heliconia families. Potting Room at Biltmore This workspace in the Conservatory has been used for over a century to re-pot plants as needed. Enjoy 365 Days of Biltmore with an Annual Pass Enjoy the grandeur and beauty of the 2,000+ plants in Biltmore’s Conservatory year-round. Purchase a Biltmore Annual Pass so you can return season after season to enjoy our gardens!
Keeping Track of Biltmore Gardens Railway Posted on May 29, 2019 at 12:00 am.Written by Amy Dangelico Please enjoy this archived exhibition article. Twice a year, Biltmore’s Conservatory is home to Biltmore Gardens Railway, an elaborate G-scale railway with locomotives and rail cars weaving through the historic greenhouse’s exotic botanicals and miniature replicas of estate landmarks – even one of the Conservatory itself! A second railway display is located in Antler Hill Village where trains travel past replicas of the Eiffel Tower, London’s Tower Bridge, and other European landmarks visited by George Vanderbilt during his world travels. “Luxuriant” bamboo, as Frederick Law Olmsted called it when planning George Vanderbilt’s gardens and grounds, was harvested and used as the roofing material on the Biltmore House replica. Grapevine was also collected and fashioned into Biltmore’s iconic gargoyles. Scaling down Biltmore House Working from original floor plans, drawings with elevations, and photographs of Biltmore House and other estate structures, a team with Applied Imagination constructed the Biltmore replicas using natural materials they gathered from estate grounds. The result is a stunningly accurate version of Biltmore. Some fun facts to consider: 1,700 – The number of hours it took to construct the 10-foot-long replica of Biltmore House, compared to… the 6 years it took to build the 250-room Biltmore House in the late 1800s. 6 – The number of artists it took to build the scale model of Biltmore House, compared to… the 1,000 workers it took to build Biltmore House in the late 1800s. 5,000 – The number of tons of Indiana limestone used to build Biltmore House in the late 1800s, compared to… the 25 types of items harvested from estate grounds to create replicas of Biltmore House and other buildings. This included horse chestnut, magnolia leaves, hickory nuts, lotus pods, bamboo, pine cone scales, acorn caps, winged bean, star anise, grapevine, honeysuckle, ash bark, oak bark, pine bark, elm bark, hickory bark, eucalyptus leaves, day lily stem, rose of sharon, cedar branch, walnuts, stewartia, wisteria, turkey tail fungus, and contorted Filbert. Artists from Applied Imagination suited up in waders to snip a few treasures from the Italian Garden pools. The lotus pods growing there were just too perfect to pass up, and ended up in the creation of the Stables. Inside the Conservatory 6 – The number of separate railroad tracks running through the Conservatory carrying locomotives and rail cars around the buildings. The trains cross bridges and trestles on varied levels and through multiple rooms. 8 – The number of estate building replicas in the Conservatory. 7 – The number of artists it took to create all of the replicas in the Conservatory. 3,745 –The number of combined hours it took to construct eight estate building replicas for the Conservatory exhibition. Attention to detail is paramount, even down to the conductor’s facial features! Tracking progress 8 – The number of buildings in the display at Antler Hill Village. 1,050 – Amount of railroad track in feet required for the displays. 1 – Amount of weeks to install Biltmore Gardens Railway at two locations on the estate. Biltmore Gardens Railway is a wonderful, fun-for-all-ages feature at Biltmore this summer. Plan your visit now!
Sip Biltmore’s Rosé Wines! Posted on May 21, 2019 at 12:00 am.Written by Jean Sexton If you think rosé wines are overly sweet or just a little too pink, think again—they are one of the hottest trends among wine aficionados at the moment. For some enthusiasts, rosé wines might have been seen as lightweight or unworthy of sipping or sharing. That view is changing, however, as winemakers take rosé to a crisper, dryer level that may surprise you. Biltmore Reserve North Carolina Rosé Wine Nothing could be finer than sipping our Biltmore Reserve North Carolina Rosé with all your favorite flavors! Biltmore Winery cultivates a number of varietals in our estate vineyards, and each season we hope to craft Biltmore Reserve wines that reflect the distinctive terroir of the Blue Ridge Mountains. According to Sharon, the only wines considered for the Biltmore Reserve wine label are those handcrafted from grapes grown in Biltmore’s own estate vineyard and by our North Carolina partners. By law, wines with an appellation and vintage date must contain at least 75% of grapes from the specific region in the year noted. “Our Biltmore® Reserve North Carolina Rosé is crafted from select North Carolina Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot grapes,” noted Sharon. “We’ve coaxed beautiful color and subtle complexity from the fruit, so you can expect aromas of banana, strawberry, and papaya followed by crisp, off-dry flavors of lemon, white peach, and hints of minerality that lead to a fruity finish.” Approachable and easy to drink, it’s perfect year-round with charcuterie, mustard-glazed salmon, pesto pizza, smoked gouda cheese, and holiday favorites like glazed ham. “Make it a go-to wine for brunch, porch sipping, and your next Taco Tuesday featuring fish tacos drizzled with lime juice,” Sharon said. Sweet, dry, and sparkling: savor all of our Biltmore rosé wines! Visit Biltmore’s Winery for a complimentary tasting of our award-winning wines. In addition to Biltmore® Reserve North Carolina Rosé, we also offer delightful options like Biltmore Estate® Sweet Rosé—a lightly sweet rosé with delightful scents of cherry, spice, candied watermelon, strawberry, and rhubarb, followed by juicy flavors of jellied pâte de fruits, lime, and mint. This wine is surprisingly versatile, pairing deliciously with a wide range of foods including barbecue, hot and sour soup, figs, and olives. Our Biltmore Estate® Dry Rosé is an elegant and refreshing wine with a subtle, fruit-forward bouquet featuring notes of nectarine, grapefruit, hibiscus, and hints of pink peppercorn. Soft and nicely balanced in its sweetness to acidity, this rosé offers delicate flavors of cherry, apricot, and raspberry. Enjoy it year-round with light favorites like grilled chicken, Caesar salad topped with salmon, strawberry pecan salad, or baked brie with apricot jam. For a sparkling wine as delicious as it is beautiful, try our coral-hued Biltmore Estate Blanc de Noir wine handcrafted from Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes in the traditional méthode champenoise that creates the finest tiny bubbles.Crisp and refreshing, with flavors of wild strawberry and watermelon, this versatile Biltmore sparkling wine pairs perfectly with an antipasto platter, smoked turkey, shrimp ceviche, watermelon-feta salad, and angel food cake with strawberries. It’s ideal for brunch, lunch gatherings, and holiday festivities. Enjoy Biltmore rosé wines and more Purchase our rosés—or any of our award-winning wines—at Biltmore Winery, estate shops, online, or through our Retailer Locator.