Discover Biltmore White Wines Posted on April 27, 2019 at 12:00 am.Written by Jean Sexton Discover Biltmore white wines, handcrafted in every flavor profile from crisp and dry to juicy and sweet, plus special tips to help you make a great choice, every time. You’ll find all our Limited Release wines at the Wine Bar adjacent to Biltmore’s Winery. Biltmore Century Sweet White Wine Century Sweet White Wine pairs perfectly with spicy dishes and desserts One of our best-selling white whites combines Gewürztraminer, Muscat Canelli, and Riesling grapes in a fragrant, semi-sweet blend that refreshes with a tropical twist. Biltmore Century Sweet White Wine is a great introduction to several different white grape varietals, and it pairs surprisingly well with many of your favorite foods such as shrimp and Asian and Vietnamese cuisine. Tip: A good sweetness-to-acidity ratio is the secret to pairing semi-sweet wines with surprisingly spicy foods. Biltmore Estate Chardonnay Biltmore wines are perfect for warm weather sipping! One of the most familiar white varietals is Chardonnay. Generally well-suited to absorb the vanilla and other characteristic flavors imparted by aging in oak barrels, Chardonnays often mature into grand wines with a rich, buttery flavor. Tip: Malo-lactic fermentation, a process in which the sharper-tasting malic acid in wine is converted into lactic acid, gives wines a more rounded, buttery taste without necessarily aging the wine in oak barrels. Biltmore Reserve Chardonnay is handcrafted from grapes grown on the estate and by our local partners Try all three of our Chardonnay options: Biltmore Estate Chardonnay, our Biltmore Reserve Chardonnay North Carolina, and our Antler Hill Chardonnay Los Carneros. Biltmore Estate Chenin Blanc Biltmore Estate Chenin Blanc on ice This varietal originated in the Loire Valley of France and might be considered a “low maintenance” grape that tends to be hearty and not too temperamental as it grows and ripens. A slightly sweeter white varietal, our Biltmore Estate Limited Release Chenin Blanc is a great choice for sipping by itself as well as enjoying with goat cheese, fresh fruit, and Asian cuisine. Tip: Although delicious on its own as a still or a sparkling wine, because of its fairly consistent acidity, you may find Chenin Blanc added to other white wine blends to improve their taste and character. Biltmore Estate Pinot Grigio Savor refreshing Biltmore Estate Pinot Noir with seafood and other rich flavors Pinot Grigio is generally known as a white varietal, yet the grape itself is actually a dusky, pinkish, blue-gray color. Some wines produced from it may take on a pinkish tone. It has become one of the most popular white varietals in recent years because it tends to please most palates and pair well with a wide range of foods. Biltmore winemaker Sharon Fenchak handcrafts our Biltmore Estate Pinot Grigio to bring out its slightly spicy, citrusy qualities. Enjoy it with ricotta cheese, pasta with cream sauce, ham, ravioli, crab, oysters, salmon, and shellfish. Tip: Try sipping a glass of our Pinot Grigio before a seafood meal—its crisp, refreshing taste helps open and prepare your palate to savor those particular flavors. Biltmore Estate Riesling George Vanderbilt’s legacy of gracious hospitality lives on with Biltmore wines handcrafted from grapes grown in the estate’s own vineyard or selected from trusted west coast partners Originally from Germany, Riesling is a versatile grape that is crisp yet semi-sweet. Our Biltmore Estate Riesling features nicely balanced fruit flavors with acidity and exotic floral notes. Tip: Love sushi but can’t imagine pairing anything besides sake with it? Try our Biltmore Reserve North Carolina Riesling made from grapes grown here at the estate. Biltmore Estate Sauvignon Blanc Pair Biltmore wines with your favorite comfort foods! Sauvignon Blanc is a dry, crisp wine that suggests elegant pairings plus the ability to stand up to complex layers of taste in rich seafood such as crab, oysters, scallops, lobster, and shellfish. Tip: Sauvignon Blanc (also known as Fume Blanc) is generally very acidic and is often characterized by hints of grass in the nose and the taste. Our Biltmore Estate Sauvignon Blanc has been awarded Best of Class in the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and received 88 points & Best Buy from the Beverage Testing Institute. Biltmore Sparkling Wines Our handcrafted Biltmore bubbles make any occasion more special Sparkling wines are traditionally crafted from white grapes such as Chardonnay and Petite Meunier. Biltmore is one of only a handful of wineries that produce both still and sparkling wines, including our finest Biltmore Estate Blanc de Blancs. Tip: Pair our bubbly and festive Pas de Deux Moscato with a rustic apple tart—you’ll be amazed at the way the flavors come alive! Purchase Biltmore white wines now Purchase any of our fine wines in estate shops, online, or with our Retail Locator.
Celebrate Sauvignon Blanc in April Posted on April 6, 2019 at 12:00 am.Written by Jean Sexton Since April 23 is National Picnic Day and April 24 is National Sauvignon Blanc Day, it’s a perfect time to celebrate Sauvignon Blanc with a picnic that includes chilled bottles of our Biltmore Estate® Sauvignon Blanc AND our Limited Release Sauvignon Blanc! Enjoy warm weather sipping with friends and family! What is Sauvignon Blanc? The Sauvignon Blanc grape originated in the Bordeaux region of France where it was considered a good blending grape for other white wines rather than a stand-alone varietal. Grapes ripening in Biltmore’s vineyard Later, Sauvignon Blanc became widely cultivated in Sancerre and in the 20th century was known by the name of that region rather than the name of the varietal. Sauvignon Blanc (or Sancerre) is highly desirable for its food-friendly qualities that make it a natural to pair with a variety of flavors. Pair our 35th Anniversary Chardonnay with fresh seafood and other flavorful fare A classic Sauvignon Blanc is crisp and refreshing, with a high acidity that can hold its own with rich seafood dishes and cheeses, yet is also delicious when sipped by itself. Discover the Biltmore difference Our Biltmore Estate® Sauvignon Blanc is handcrafted for true varietal character with bright citrus aromas, fresh peach flavors, and an elegant finish. Biltmore Winemaker Sharon Fenchak suggests pairing it well-chilled with everything from crab, lobster, oysters, scallops, or shellfish to goat and gruyère cheeses and green salads. Savor Biltmore Estate Sauvignon Blanc with a variety of cheeses Though crafted from the same varietal, our Biltmore Estate® Limited Release Sauvignon Blanc gives our winemaker more leeway to express the possibilities of the grape. “It is definitely refreshing,” said Sharon Fenchak, “but also unexpectedly creamy with hints of toasted coconut, key lime, and oak.” Our Limited Release Sauvignon Blanc pairs perfectly with oysters and other seafood dishes She enjoys serving it with foods like crab, flounder, oysters, and mozzarella cheese. “It’s a perfect partner for sushi, too,” Sharon said, “which can be very difficult for wine pairings.” Stock up on Sauvignon Blanc and celebrate! Pair Biltmore wines with your favorite comfort foods! Go ahead and stock up on now on both our delightful Sauvignon Blanc styles, then invite friends and family for a backyard picnic, grill some crowd-pleasing Grilled Vegetable and Goat Cheese Pizzetas, and raise a glass to good times and great wines!
Savor the Art and Science of Winemaking Posted on August 29, 2018 at 12:00 am.Written by Jean Sexton “The art and science of winemaking—for nearly 20 years, that’s how Bernard Delille and I described ourselves,” said Sharon Fenchak, winemaker and vice president of wine production for Biltmore. Biltmore winemakers Sharon Fenchak and Bernard Delille (now retired) enjoy a glass of wine in Biltmore’s vineyard “Before his retirement in 2018, that’s also what we accomplished as a team,” Sharon said. A shared philosophy “Our backgrounds were very different, with Bernard having begun his winemaking career in France,” said Sharon, “while my passion for the craft began while I was in the U.S. Army, stationed in Vicenza, Italy. Despite their differences, the two shared a philosophy of creating high-quality wines that are true to varietal character while still being food-friendly and approachable. Sharon and Bernard at work in Biltmore’s wine lab, tasting the scientific results of the art of winemaking Raising a glass to retirement When Bernard announced he planned to retire in July 2018, all the members of the wine production team wanted to handcraft a special wine that would commemorate their years of working together. “We knew it had to be outstanding,” Sharon said. “It needed to speak to all that we’ve accomplished as a team, and to reflect the distinctive direction in which we’ve developed Biltmore wines.” Art and science in Biltmore’s vineyard Grapes ripening in Biltmore’s vineyard For the wine itself, Sharon and the wine production team looked no further than the natural outgrowth of “art and science” in Biltmore’s vineyard. When she joined Biltmore’s wine production team in 1999, one of Sharon’s first projects involved a clonal selection initiative in the estate’s vineyards. “Clone” refers to a cutting or bud from an original varietal. In addition to her other winemaking responsibilities, Sharon oversees the estate’s vineyard “The vineyard team was working with Dijon Chardonnay clones,” said Sharon, “and we were looking for those best suited to the conditions of the estate vineyard. From a winemaking and viticulture standpoint, clones 76, 95, and 96 showed great promise, producing smaller, looser clusters of grapes with more intense flavors and aromatics.” The 2017 harvest of these distinctive clones would result in the first release featuring them exclusively, and Sharon knew these grapes were the perfect ones for a signature Chardonnay in honor of Bernard’s dynamic career and their long partnership. Labeling a work of art “For the label, we wanted something that illustrated the idea of art and science,” Sharon said. “The marketing team created a number of different concepts, from traditional monograms to some very fun graphics that had grape vines turning into the scientific formula for malolactic fermentation!” X marks the spot The commemorative Chardonnay label featuring Bernard’s handwriting font at the bottom According to Lisa Vogel, art director, the design finally came together with an X-shaped cross of the two winemakers’ names and a traditional wax seal featuring their initials in the middle. “Everyone admired Bernard’s beautiful penmanship,” said Lisa, “so we created a special font entitled ‘Delille’ from his actual handwriting to further personalize the collaboration represented by the label and the wine inside the bottle.” “It’s a remarkable Chardonnay with a compelling label,” said Sharon. “I hope that everyone who tries it truly savors the art and science of winemaking it represents—including the expertise of our vineyard team who nurtured and harvested the grapes and the care with which the wine production team handcrafts all our Biltmore wines.” Savor our wines by the bottle or glass Biltmore wines are perfect for warm weather sipping! Purchase Biltmore wines at the estate, online, or find them close to home. While visiting Biltmore’s Winery, savor a complimentary tasting of our award-winning wines in person.
Host a Sizzling Summer White Party! Posted on July 13, 2018 at 12:00 am.Written by Karina Hux Ready to host a sizzling summer white party? Our estate wine experts have some great tips to help you make the most of the season.“From the Hamptons to Los Angeles, well-known fashion and entertainment celebrities have been hosting elegant ‘white parties’ every summer for many years. With all-white clothing and décor, these iconic events are a celebration of everything warm weather-related and summer-worthy—including white wines,” said Alisha Forester, Sales Director for Biltmore Wines. Will your summer white party be an indoor or outdoor affair? 1. Find the perfect spot Start by choosing your location first, as that sets the tone for your summer white party. Gardens and patios with easy access to the indoors make for a great party, and hosting your event poolside makes a big splash! For outdoor parties, make sure you have a backup plan for weather, plenty of shade, and other conveniences for your guests. Tip: Create classic summer white party style with all-white décor, which can be as simple as white tablecloths and white flowers, especially if you’re celebrating outdoors. Sparkling wines are a must-have for your summer white party! 2. Select some white wines It’s not a summer white party without your favorite Biltmore white wines, and we handcraft wonderful options from still to sparkling. Try these easy white flights–we’ve already arranged the wines for you in order from lighter styles to those with more body: Dry white flight: Biltmore Estate® Pinot Grigio, Biltmore Estate® Sauvignon Blanc, Biltmore Estate® Chardonnay, and Biltmore® Reserve North Carolina Chardonnay. Sweet white flight: Biltmore Estate® Limited Release Gewürztraminer, Biltmore Estate® Limited Release Orange Muscat, Century Sweet White, Biltmore Estate® Limited Release Chenin Blanc. Sparkling white flight: Biltmore Estate® Brut, Biltmore Estate® Château Reserve Blanc de Blancs, Biltmore Estate® Blanc de Blancs, Biltmore Estate® Blanc de Noir. Tip: Keep the party kid-friendly with plenty of Biltmore Sparkling White Grape Juice, available in estate gift shops. Panna Cotta with Grapefruit Gelée is a fresh twist on a classic dessert that’s perfect for your summer white party! 3. Pair a signature dish with white wine Delight your guests with this fresh citrusy twist on classic Italian panna cotta with a surprising ingredient: goat cheese. With its characteristic rich flavor, creamy texture, and a bright pop of color, Panna Cotta with Grapefruit Gelée is perfect for an indulgent summer white party treat! Panna Cotta with Grapefruit Gelée Gelée ¾ cup fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice ¼ cup sugar 2 teaspoons (1 packet) unflavored gelatin powder Combine grapefruit juice, sugar, and gelatin powder in a small sauce pan. Whisk well and bring to a boil. Pour 1 ounce of the juice mixture into each of 6 (4-ounce) ramekins. Place the ramekins in the refrigerator to chill until firm, at least 30 minutes. Panna Cotta 3 cups heavy cream ½ cup sugar 7 teaspoons (3½ packets) unflavored gelatin powder 14 ounces goat cheese, softened Combine heavy cream, sugar, and gelatin powder in a medium saucepan. Whisk well and bring to a boil, then immediately remove from heat. Add the softened goat cheese to the mixture and continue to whisk until completely smooth. Divide the goat cheese panna cotta mixture evenly among the ramekins. Pour it over the firmly set grapefruit gelée and refrigerate until set, at least 1 hour. Run a knife between the panna cotta and the ramekin to release and invert onto a plate. If the panna cotta won’t come out, turn it upside down and run hot tap water over the bottom of the ramekin for 30–60 seconds, then gently tap onto a plate Tip: Crisp, sparkling Biltmore Estate® Brut with notes of citrus, strawberry, honey, and apricot is a perfect partner for Panna Cotta with Grapefruit Gelée. Celebrate your summer white party with Biltmore Wines! 4. Celebrate your summer white party Once you’ve chosen your location, selected the Biltmore wines you’ll serve, and created the perfect menu, what’s left? Don your favorite all-white outfit and invite friends and family to join you for a wonderful summer celebration! Cheers!
Celebrate with Biltmore Sparkling Wines Posted on May 5, 2018 at 12:00 am.Written by Marissa Jamison There’s no better time to celebrate with Biltmore sparkling wines than right now! Whether you’re honoring a college graduate, seeking a wedding gift for newlyweds, or adding a bit of sparkle to an afternoon happy hour with co-workers, Biltmore has the best bubbles–handcrafted in the traditional méthode champenoise–for tasting and toasting. Uncork a bottle of Biltmore Estate sparkling wine for any occasion! Five fun facts about sparkling wine For centuries, sparkling wine has enjoyed a certain mystery and allure. It was so enchanting, in fact, that some called it “devil’s wine” due to the effervescent bubbles. Today, we still love the magical bubbles and appreciate the romance surrounding this delightful wine, and here are the fun facts to prove it: There are 90–110 pounds of pressure per square inch in a bottle of sparkling wine–that’s more than three times the pressure in car tires! Only sparkling wine from the Champagne region of France can officially be called “champagne.” The grapes traditionally used in champagnes are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. Dom Perignon, a Catholic monk and avid winemaker, accidentally discovered sparkling wine when some of his wine re-fermented by chance. He thought it was ruined, but the rest is history. There are an estimated 44 to 57 million bubbles in every bottle of bubbly. Celebrate any occasion, large or small, with Biltmore sparkling wines. Serving and storing sparkling wine Sparkling wine may best be known as a celebratory drink, but we believe it’s the perfect everyday wine too. Whatever the occasion, enjoy your favorite Biltmore sparkling wines with these helpful tips: Chill the bottle in the refrigerator prior to opening. The cold temperature helps preserve the bubbles when opening the bottle. Sparkling wines are best when served at 33-40 degrees. When opening a bottle of sparkling, hold the bottle at a 45-degree angle. Loosen the cage and hold the cork. Gently twist the cork until you hear a whisper of a pop. Holding a towel over the cork when opening will help catch any spills that may occur. Double-check your glasses to ensure the glass is free from detergent residue. A perfectly clear glass allows you to appreciate the bubbles. After opening, all sparkling wines begin to lose their bubbles, so it’s best to drink them as soon as possible. To store an open bottle of bubbly, you can use a special champagne topper. These metal caps with a rubber seal keep the bubbles fresh for the next time you want a glass. Most sparkling wines are sold ready to drink, so don’t hang on to bottles in an effort to further “age” the wine. For the best bubbles, be sure to chill your sparkling wine before uncorking it. An array of Biltmore sparkling wine options Biltmore Estate® Blanc de Blancs: A dry sparkling wine with flavors of Bosc pear and light yeast, plus a surprisingly creamy mouthfeel. Biltmore Estate® Brut: A dry sparkling wine made from traditional champagne grapes of Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, and Pinot Noir. Biltmore Estate® Blanc de Noir: A dry sparkling wine with a light pink hue and flavors of wild strawberry and lemon. Pas de Deux® Sec: A semi-sweet sparkling wine created from fragrant Muscat Canelli grapes. Enjoy Biltmore sparkling wines during your next estate visit or savor them at home. Celebrate with Biltmore sparkling wines When you’re ready to celebrate with Biltmore sparkling wines, you can find them at estate shops and restaurants, online, or close to home with our Retail Locator.
Biltmore Wines Have Big Personalities Posted on August 25, 2017 at 4:00 pm.Written by Ellie Garst From flavor to food-friendliness, we’ve always believed that Biltmore wines have big personalities. To highlight North Carolina Wine Month in May, we’re pairing five of the estate’s historic VIPs with a distinctive Biltmore wine that best matches their own larger-than-life personalities! ~ George Washington Vanderbilt ~Antler Hill Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley George Vanderbilt (left; portrait by John Singer Sargent) was a thoughtful collector of wines whose legacy continues to inspire our handcrafted Biltmore wines today. Mr. Vanderbilt was known as a thoughtful collector of wine, often bringing back cases of his favorite discoveries from his world travels to share with friends and family at Biltmore. Handcrafted from exceptional grapes grown by phenomenal vineyard partners in California’s Napa Valley, our full-bodied Antler Hill Cabernet Sauvignon is as refined and elegant as George Vanderbilt himself. ~ Edith Stuyvesant Vanderbilt ~ Biltmore Reserve Chardonnay North Carolina Our Biltmore Reserve Chardonnay is an elegant match for this glorious Boldini portrait of Edith Vanderbilt Handcrafted from North Carolina’s finest locally grown Chardonnay grapes, this wine is full-bodied with good acidity highlighted by citrus and tropical fruit flavors. Only vintage wines worthy of the Biltmore Reserve name earn this select honor, and the excellence of this Biltmore Reserve Chardonnay North Carolina reflects the gracious character of Edith Vanderbilt who, in turn, symbolizes the heart of Biltmore and all that the estate represents. ~ Cornelia Vanderbilt Cecil ~Biltmore Estate Blanc de Noir Cornelia Vanderbilt Cecil exemplifies the Roaring Twenties spirit of our Biltmore Estate Blanc de Noir Born in 1900, Cornelia Vanderbilt would come of age in the Roaring Twenties, a time characterized by the effervescent enthusiasm of the American Jazz Age. Our Biltmore Estate Blanc de Noir sparkling wine captures the joie de vivre of this exciting era in a crisp, sparkling wine with a delightful light pink hue and flavors of cherries and strawberries. ~ Richard Morris Hunt ~The Hunt Red Blend Sonoma County The Hunt Red Blend is named in honor of Biltmore architect Richard Morris Hunt The name of our richly-layered and refined Bordeaux-style red blend already honors Richard Morris Hunt, the architect of America’s Largest Home®, so it’s no surprise that it also represents his dynamic personality! Aging for 18 months in French and American oak barrels gives The Hunt great structure, just like Biltmore—the magnificent estate that Hunt designed for George Vanderbilt. ~ Frederick Law Olmsted ~Biltmore Estate Limited Release Sauvignon Blanc Biltmore Estate Limited Release Sauvignon Blanc reminds us of Biltmore landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted Known as the father of American landscape architecture, Frederick Law Olmsted planned the breathtaking gardens and grounds that surround Biltmore. With classic grassy and herbal varietal characteristics, Sauvignon Blanc is a perfect partner for such an accomplished horticulturalist, and our Biltmore Estate Sauvignon Blanc—refreshing and unexpectedly creamy with hints of toasted coconut, key lime, and oak—is no exception. Find our award-winning wines online Put Biltmore wines on your “bucket list” for summer sipping! Stock up on your favorites Biltmore wines now and discover new varietals at estate shops, local retailers, and online. Featured image: Photograph of Edith Vanderbilt paired with Biltmore Reserve Chardonnay North Carolina