Christmas Memory Framing Project Posted on November 24, 2012 at 12:00 am.Written by Karina Hux Get Creative with Fun Holiday Framing Ideas The holidays are quickly approaching, which means it’s time to deck the halls with cheer. This year, don’t overlook the walls when adding festive touches. An easy way to start is by going through old holiday photos. Consider framing photos of the children with Santa, or showing off family portraits in an attractive grouping. When Christmas is over, you can keep the photos out and enjoy beautiful memories year-round! The holidays usually mean a mailbox overflowing with Christmas cards. Pick out some of your favorites, and display them around your home in frames. It’s an easy way to create instant artwork. Need help getting started on your framing projects? We recommend selecting frames from our Biltmore Frame Collection by Larson-Juhl.
It’s Bedtime for Tulip Bulbs Posted on November 23, 2012 at 12:00 am.Written by Karina Hux We pause now from our holiday postings to bring you a mini-preview of things to come this Spring. In our region, November is the time to plant springtime bulbs. And that’s exactly what Biltmore’s Walled Garden crew did earlier this month, spending many hours on hands and knees tucking tulip bulbs into the ground for their long winter’s naps. They’ll need the rest – the tulips, we mean – because they have a show to put on. (Not that our hard-working crew doesn’t need the rest, of course!) When April arrives, our annual Biltmore Blooms event (formerly known as Festival of Flowers) will already be underway. The bulbs currently in the ground will transform themselves into bright green stems and showy petals in coordinated hues of pink and dark purple; and yellow, orange and light purple. Estate-wide, the horticulture team planted around 96,000 bulbs. They dug thousands of 6-inch deep holes and dropped between eight and six bulbs into each one to ensure three or four weeks of bloom time. Parker Andes, Director of Horticulture, suggests if you’re planting tulip bulbs in your garden at home, wait until the soil’s temperature drops to below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Arrange them so their pointy sides are facing up. He also advises that bulbs in the ground often serve as a subterranean buffet for critters like voles. If you have problems with these tiny rodents, add a little gravel to each hole to keep them from tunneling toward your bulbs. Extra tidbit in the name of Trivial Pursuit: What do Biltmore gardeners talk about while planting tulip bulbs? Any number of things, says Travis Murray, Walled Garden Crew Leader. The day we took these photos, the topic was “Favorite 1980s Horror Movies.”
Our Annual Christmas Party Posted on November 21, 2012 at 12:00 am.Written by Karina Hux For more than 120 years, Biltmore has celebrated the holidays with a party for employees and their families. Today's annual gathering begins with a warm welcome from Bill Cecil Jr., great grandson of George Vanderbilt. The party is something staff looks forward to every year, and it's a wonderful opportunity to see co-workers and their loved ones fill the halls of Biltmore House. Children sit on Santa’s lap and whisper their wishes, while staff members hand them gift chosen as carefully for them as those that Edith Vanderbilt selected for earlier generations. This beloved tradition was started by George Vanderbilt when he first opened his new home on Christmas Eve 1895. Making a list and checking it twice In October 1898, George and Edith Vanderbilt returned to Biltmore after a June wedding in Paris and an enviably long honeymoon. Mrs. Vanderbilt quickly settled into her new home and became involved in the lives of the families living on the estate. Within weeks of her arrival, our archival correspondence documents that she had already begun planning the holiday celebrations for estate staff. Each year, Edith gathered the names of each of the children on the estate and carefully selected items she thought they would like. A “Christmas Tree Fund” was established to purchase gifts. Anna Wheeler, the wife of estate veterinarian and a close friend of Edith Vanderbilt, sometimes helped with the holiday preparations. In an unpublished memoir, Anna fondly described these special times: “Mrs. Vanderbilt kept a book in which the individual presents were recorded yearly; her idea was to avoid duplication, but it served another purpose in assisting [her] in the better knowledge of each family. It was just another example of her predominate kindness and her executive ability. Mrs. Vanderbilt did the buying, and labeling and wrapping of all those many gifts.” Gifts for all Given the Vanderbilts’ conscious support of the community, it’s no surprise that they believed in buying local. Edith made a point of purchasing the majority of toys and gifts from area merchants, though some specialty items were also ordered from F.A.O. Schwartz, an upscale department store in New York City. For the adults, gifts tended to be practical in nature. For her first Christmas here, Edith purchased comforters, mufflers and shawls from H. Redwood & Co. in Asheville. For the youngest members of the estate, treats of special sweets, clothing, games, and toys were standard gifts. Leaving no detail un-attended, Mrs. Vanderbilt personally labeled and wrapped these goodies, using one of the bedrooms in Biltmore House as her staging area. Anna recalled that the room “assumed the appearance of a Santa Clause storage place.” Describing a scene almost identical to what still takes place today, Mrs. Wheeler wrote, “Every family received a package which contained a gift for each member. The brilliant tree, in its magnificent setting… the faces of those surrounding it, and the beautiful and gracious hostess are never to be forgotten.” Enjoy our seasonal celebration with your family Make Biltmore part of your family's holiday tradition by learning more about our Christmas at Biltmore and Candlelight Christmas Evenings celebrations. Images: — Featured image: Children of a Biltmore employee enjoy meeting Santa and Mrs. Claus at Biltmore's annual Christmas party — First image: Santa and Mrs. Claus listen to children's Christmas wishes — Second image: Receipt for Edith Vanderbilt's 1898 Christmas order from F.A.O Schwartz in New York — Third image: Floral Design Manager Cathy Barnhardt enjoys Biltmore's Christmas party with her family, ca. 2010
Decorate your Outdoor Spaces for the Winter Posted on November 15, 2012 at 12:00 am.Written by Karina Hux Want to spruce up your garden, yard, or walkway this winter? The presence of unique statues can add beauty to your grounds during the cold months. When it snows, the pieces are truly eye-catching. If you have outdoor containers, you can fill them with evergreens to bring color into your space—spruce, fir, magnolia, holly, and pine. You can use Oasis (floral foam) to help arrange and hold moisture. The cuttings can go up to four weeks without water. If the container is in direct sunlight, the cuttings will brown out faster, even if they are watered and in Oasis. Hang wreaths or use garland to decorate other areas like your front door or other statues. Add bows, berries, pinecones, or other pops of natural color to really showcase winter’s beauty. Create an attractive arrangement in a container by using a taller evergreen surrounded by smaller plants around the outside. Purchase a potted shrub that is slightly smaller than your container. You can either remove it from the pot and plant it directly into the container in a potting soil mix, or place the pot into the container and use small pine bark nuggets to hold it in place as well as on top to hide the smaller pot. Insider Tip: Our Venetian Urn is displayed at A Gardener’s Place, our garden-inspired gift shop, this winter with such an arrangement if you need some in-person inspiration! The most important thing to remember is to water but not over water. Plants still need water in the winter. Once a week is a good rule of thumb for winter months, but check the soil moisture just in case! If it’s staying dry, water more often. If it is staying too wet, water less often. You want the soil to be slightly moist but not saturated or powder dry. See our Unique Stone statuary for inspiration! Unique Stone, a licensed partner with Biltmore For Your Home, carries on the visionary legacy left by Biltmore’s landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted. Throughout Biltmore inspiration was drawn to craft outdoor statues, benches, pedestals, and various other architectural elements in cast stone. Items are then hand finished for an aged patina.
Happy Birthday, George Posted on November 14, 2012 at 12:00 am.Written by Karina Hux It’s a special day at Biltmore: the 150th anniversary of George Vanderbilt’s birth! His parents, William Henry and Maria Louisa Vanderbilt, welcomed him into the world at their family home near New Dorp on Staten Island, NY on November 14, 1862. Named in honor of a paternal uncle, little George was the youngest of a large, lively brood. Every so often we run across objects in the collection that shed some light on how the Vanderbilt family celebrated special occasions together. It’s always touching to me (particularly after 150 years!) to come across tokens of these traditions. Maria Louisa was a devoted and loving mother to each of her eight children and she and George maintained a particularly close relationship throughout their lives. Today seems like a fitting occasion to share two of the birthday gifts that Maria Louisa bestowed upon her youngest son. Tucked among Biltmore’s 23,000 books are three treasured volumes that George received from his mother for his ninth birthday. Inscribed “George from Mama Nov. 14th 1871”, the books are part of a popular series of novels written by the Reverend Elijah Kellogg, Jr. With titles like Boy Farmers of Elm Island and The Ark of Elm Island, one might guess that George had a taste for adventure, but the stories are also instructive. Throughout the series, the main characters are faced with all sorts of ethical dilemmas challenging their resolve to be upstanding young men, all while navigating the treacherous waters of the West Indies. Maria Louisa Vanderbilt’s carefully-selected gift gives us a hint of George’s boyhood interests, as well as how deeply she valued and encouraged her children’s moral and intellectual growth. Filed away in George’s personal papers, we found an unsigned and undated poem. The three pages are bound with a ribbon and composed in perfect penmanship. Upon reading it, it becomes apparent that the poem is from his mother and was written on the occasion of his 21st birthday. She reflects back upon his birth, celebrates his coming of age, and shares her hopes for his future. Crowned in an aureole of light, I see grand dreams and visions bright …there is no scope to youth’s vast boundless wealth of hope, and boundless opportunity for good…” Through her carefully-crafted prose, Maria Louisa bids her son to heed the call of work, to put right what he finds wrong , and: To give a kindly word of cheer To those who heavy burdens bear Such work will bless, when nobly done. And such work comes to every one. He helps the age in which he lives, Who does his best – and his best gives To carry sunshine everywhere… A later stanza relates every mother’s dream of having her child’s greatest aspirations fulfilled. If in thy heart deep-hidden some cherished wish there be, One that may bless thy future – that wish is mine for thee. And with this wish in parting, there comes to light the way The season’s ripe perfection crowning this festal day. I can only imagine the pride that Maria Louisa would feel in knowing that her son did indeed improve the age in which he lived, and was able to bring his “grand dreams and bright visions” to fruition as she had hoped. She would undoubtedly be elated to learn that George’s life’s work resulted in the creation of a bounteous estate, a peaceful oasis, and an enlightened community that are all still going strong 150 years later. Happy birthday, George!
Thank you to those who serve and have served Posted on November 12, 2012 at 12:00 am.Written by Karina Hux A flag containing an array of stars hangs in the Banquet Hall of Biltmore House to honor Biltmore employees who served during World War I. Its 53 stars represent each person – 50 blue stars mark those who returned home, and the three gold stars represent those who died in action. Today, Nov. 12, 2012, we honor the men and women who have served our country, and those who were and are employed by Biltmore. Edith Vanderbilt commissioned the flag, known as the Service flag, in 1920. These flags grew in popularity during World War I after Army Captain Robert L. Queissner of the Fifth Ohio Infantry designed and patented a flag to honor his two sons serving on the front line. In 2005, Biltmore’s Museum Services team had a reproduction of the flag made, which had hung in the Banquet Hall for more than 80 years. It had deteriorated over time and eventually it could no longer support its own weight. For many years, we knew that one of the blue stars represented Herbert Noble, an English butler who worked in Biltmore House. In 1930, journalist Louis Graves wrote: “Herbert Noble had been employed at the Vanderbilt home before the war; he had begged to be released to go to England and enlist; and he had come back to America with his ribbon, his wounds, and his memories of the great adventure, and had found his old job waiting for him.” Herbert’s star was the only one to which we could attach a name. Until last week, that is. The Museum Services team recently discovered new information about the Service flag through ongoing cataloging and research of the many thousands of documents in the Biltmore Archives. Within these documents exists the elusive list of 52 employees – 49 men and 3 women – who are remembered by these stars. Not all worked at the estate, but some worked at Biltmore Estate Industries and Biltmore Hospital as well. Just like Herbert Noble, many of those who returned to the U.S. after the war went back to their jobs, as Edith Vanderbilt made sure their jobs would be waiting for them when they got home. The identity of the 53rd star, a gold one that is not on the list and presumably added later, is still a mystery. So now the process of researching the names, positions and stories of those on the list begins. Biltmore House hosts share the flag’s history with our guests every day, noting that the names have never been known or confirmed. It’s exciting to think that now they’ll be able to share this new discovery with our guests.
Design Biltmore's Next Wine Label Posted on November 9, 2012 at 12:00 am.Written by Karina Hux Although the calendar claims it’s still officially fall until December 21, it’s all about Christmas for us right now! Christmas at Biltmore kicked off last Saturday and Candlelight Christmas Evening tours begin tonight. It’s also the season for our commemorative Christmas at Biltmore Wine to appear around the estate, in our online store and in retail stores across the region. Every year we hold a competition to design a wine label inspired by the holidays at Biltmore, with the winner’s artwork appearing on Christmas at Biltmore Wine bottles. The competition is intense, drawing hundreds of entries from around the country. Need a little inspiration? Check out these wine label designs from previous years. The gorgeous painting on the 2012 Christmas at Biltmore Wine bottle was designed by Marcus C. Thomas of Weaverville, NC. What makes Marcus’ artistry even more breathtaking: He is a quadriplegic, paralyzed below the neck and uses his mouth to paint his incredible works of art. Thomas will be at Biltmore Winery to sign bottles of the 2012 Christmas at Biltmore Wine Dec. 22, 2012. Marcus, his wife Anne and their yellow lab Bella live and create in Western North Carolina, where the Appalachian mountains serve as a source of infinite inspiration. Visit marcusthomasartist.com for more information. This beautiful winter scene depicting the facade of Biltmore House and a Christmas tree is by Meagan Warren of Matthews, NC and was the winner in Biltmore’s 2011 wine label design contest. Meghan noted that “Like Biltmore, this label inspires magical memories of Christmases past, present, and the wonder of those to come.” Her label cast the most votes in our 2nd annual contest which drew 128 entries and thousands of votes cast across the country. “Snowy Sunset Scene” is the name of the winning label in the 2010 wine label design contest. Designed by Teena Steenerson of Mauldin, SC, she was looking to capture a vintage look and feel of our annual Christmas at Biltmore celebration. Interested in participating? Now through January 13, submit an original design, photo or piece of artwork. A panel selected by Biltmore will identify up to five semifinalists. The semifinalist submissions will be featured on Biltmore.com beginning February 1, 2013 for fans to vote for their favorite. The winning submission will appear as the label of the 2013 Christmas at Biltmore Wine and receive prizes valued at $900. How to Enter Submit your best original design, photo or piece of artwork online at biltmore.com/contest. Include a three-sentence summary telling us why your entry embodies “Christmas at Biltmore.”
May I Park Your Car? Posted on November 5, 2012 at 12:00 am.Written by Karina Hux We hear often from our guests that it is our staff who make Biltmore special. And we agree! Every person in every job has the same goal of making our visitors love their time with us. At Inn on Biltmore Estate this is especially true, where guests stay several days and interact with employees throughout their visit. But who are they really? Let us introduce you! May I Park Your Car? These smiling faces often make the very first impression when a guest arrives at the inn. That’s a huge responsibility, one that sets the tone for the guest’s entire stay. And they take that responsibility very seriously. Not that they don’t have fun on the job – because they do. The smiles tell the story. Meet Shane Robinson, Justin Pinner and Chris Roberts – Valets at Inn on Biltmore Estate. Each describes himself as a “people person,” and on a recent beautiful November afternoon the three were working side by side to welcome guests, assisting them with their luggage, answering questions, parking their cars and retrieving their cars from the parking lot. “What’s not to enjoy,” says Justin. “It’s a beautiful location, you meet people from all over the world, you’re outside and you’re getting exercise.” The three have a great sense of humor and clearly enjoy working together. And all of this while staying in constant motion. On average, Justin and his colleagues run between 7 and 8 miles per day to deliver guest vehicles to the parking lot or back to the front door where the guest is waiting. On days when the weather turns fierce with rain, wind, cold temperatures or all three together, it just makes them run faster. No need to stop by the gym on the way home from work, this job has that benefit built in. Other qualifications for the job? Be an excellent driver. And you better know how to drive a straight-shift vehicle – it’s on the job application.
Plant Bulbs Now for Beautiful Spring Gardens Posted on October 29, 2012 at 12:00 am.Written by Karina Hux Longing to create a gorgeous spring garden? Fall is the ideal time to lay the foundation by planting bulbs. Popular spring bulbs such as tulips, crocuses, daffodils, and hyacinths need fall and winter to prepare for spring blooms. Fall Bulb Planting Tips Plant when the soil temperature is cool. “Ideally, the soil’s temperature should be between 50–55 degrees,” says Parker Andes, Director of Horticulture. Plant bulbs in a sunny location in a hole that is six inches deep. Make sure the tip of the bulb faces upwards. For the most impact, dig wide holes and place multiple bulbs in one hole. “Grouping bulbs in one hole creates a bigger visual impact because the blooms are closer together,” Parker said. Plant Now with Biltmore Bulbs Get a head start on a beautiful garden by looking for Biltmore For Your Home Bulbs at your local garden center. Select from exclusive Biltmore collections created by the world-renowned Netherland Bulb Company. Find a retailer near you.
Wine Blends for Autumn Posted on October 5, 2012 at 12:00 am.Written by Karina Hux A Note from Our Winemakers As the season grows cooler and the foods heartier we just naturally yearn for warm, rich wines. A good place to start is with blended wines served with several of autumn recipes. Whether you have just begun your wine journey and are looking for an approachable wine, or are well into your sojourn and looking to expand your palate, wine blends are well worth your attention. As winemakers, we appreciate the beauty of blending different grape varietals together because the unique qualities of each grape works together to enhance the common qualities they share. A very interesting, well-rounded wine can be the result. Let’s look at our own blended wines, our Century collection. You’ll find them crafted to be food-friendly, as well as easy to sip on their own. Century White Our Century White uses a blend of aromatic, fruit-forward grapes. Made from a blend of Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and Muscat Canelli, the result is a wine with an intense floral nose and semi-sweet flavors. It’s enjoyable all by itself, but also makes a perfect pairing to lighter desserts or spicy Asian food. We can’t think of a better fall food pairing than this recipe for Praline Pumpkin Pie. Century Red For our Century Red, we wanted to create an Italian-style wine that would feel at home with a nice hearty bowl of pasta or an elegant dinner with prime rib. Made from a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot, and Zinfandel this wine is laid back yet elegant, a really approachable red wine that loves food! To soothe your craving for hearty comfort food, pair this red with our chef’s Smoked Gouda Mac & Cheese. Century Rosé Our Century Rosé falls somewhere in between the two—it is heartier than most rosés with which Americans are familiar and it’s made in a drier style. Crafted from a rosé blend of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre, this wine really pairs delightfully with heartier white meats such as roast turkey and pork tenderloin and it’s the perfect addition to brunch and picnics. Try it with our down-home recipe for Southern Quail with Collard Greens. Praline Pumpkin Pie Ingredients For Crust: • 1 pie crust, partially baked • 4 tablespoons butter, melted • 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed • 1/2 cup pecans, chopped Ingredients For Filling: • 3 eggs • 1 egg yolk • 1/2 cup sugar • 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed • 1 teaspoon salt • 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, ground • 1/2 teaspoon ginger, ground • 1/2 teaspoon cloves, ground • 1 1/2 cups milk • 1/2 cup heavy cream • 2 cups pumpkin puree • Candied pecans (optional) • Whipped cream (optional) Method: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine melted butter, brown sugar, and pecans to create the praline mixture for the crust. Press praline mixture into partially baked 9” deep dish pie shell and bake in preheated oven for about 10 minutes. Then place in freezer until praline mixture is semi-frozen. For the pie filling, combine eggs, egg yolk, sugar, and brown sugar in a bowl. Add the salt and spices, mixing well. Slowly stir in the milk and cream, then add the pumpkin puree. Pour mixture into pie shell over praline mixture. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, then reduce temperature to 350 degrees and bake for another 40–50 minutes or until set. Consistency of pie will be somewhere between a traditional pumpkin pie and a pumpkin cheesecake. If desired, garnish with candied pecans and whipped cream when cool. Serves 8. Smoked Gouda Mac & Cheese Ingredients: • 2 Cups elbow macaroni pasta, dry • 2 1/2 Cups heavy cream • 1 Cup shredded smoked gouda cheese • 1/2 Cup shredded parmesan cheese • 1 Cup panko breadcrumbs Method: Cook macaroni in salted boiling water until done. Drain and pour into baking dish. In a sauce pan, heat cream and add gouda and half of parmesan. Whisk vigorously over low heat to melt cheese, making sure not to let scorch on the bottom. When cheese is melted into cream, pour mixture over macaroni. Sprinkle panko bread crumbs and rest of parmesan cheese over macaroni and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until breadcrumbs are golden brown. Cut into 4 portions, serve hot. Southern Quail with Collard Greens Southern Fried Quail Ingredients: • 8 Semi-boneless Quail • 2 cups Buttermilk • 2 cups Cornmeal • 4 cups Corn Oil • 2 cups Flour • Salt and Pepper to taste Method: Soak the quail in buttermilk for 1 hour. In two mixing bowls, place cornmeal in one and flour in the other seasoned with salt and pepper. Heat the corn oil in a deep frying pan or fryer. Remove the quail from the buttermilk and let excess milk drip off. Place the quail in the flour and lightly toss. Shake off the excess flour and return to the buttermilk. Once covered, let the excess milk drip off and place in the cornmeal. Lightly toss the quail in the cornmeal and shake off the excess, ensuring the fowl is completely coated. Drop the quail in the oil and fry until golden brown, 3-5 minutes. Braised Collard Greens Ingredients: • 2 bu collards, washed • 1 pt onion, small diced • 2 tbsp garlic, minced • 1 c bacon, julienne and rendered • 1 c cider vinegar • 1/2 c sugar • 1 qt chicken stock • Salt and pepper to taste Method: Strip the stalk off the collards, cut in half and then into 1-inch pieces. Render the bacon slowly; add the onion and garlic, sweat until the onion is translucent. Deglaze with vinegar and add sugar. Reduce vinegar by 3/4. Add the collards and chicken stock. Simmer over medium heat until the collards have become tender. Season to taste.