Halloween How-to: Pairing Biltmore Wine with Candy Posted on October 10, 2024 at 10:34 am.Written by Jean Sexton There’s nothing scary about enjoying Biltmore wines with your favorite sweets! Take spooky-season fun to the next level with our special Halloween how-to on pairing Biltmore wine with classic candy at home. The same principles that apply to successful food-and-wine pairings also work with candy. For desserts, you’d normally choose a wine that’s sweeter than the dish you’re serving, but this Halloween how-to focuses on pairings that add a little sophistication and a lot of fun to the mix. Biltmore Estate® Limited Release Dry Riesling pairs perfectly with tri-colored candy corn Complement candy corn For those who love the seasonal stripes and sugary sweetness of old-fashioned candy corn, it’s twice as nice with a glass of Biltmore Estate® Riesling. Our Riesling features sweet apricot aromas, light honey flavors, and a crisp finish that provides a pleasant balance for the pure sweetness and soft, waxy texture of candy corn. For a special Halloween treat, savor smooth, creamy peanut butter cups with our approachable Biltmore Estate® Chardonnay Peanut butter perfection If your Halloween traditions include snagging all the chocolate-covered peanut butter cups out of the treat bags to savor later, we suggest you consider complementing the dynamic duo with our approachable Biltmore Estate® Chardonnay. This is a pairing that surprises people, because you don’t normally pair peanut butter with wine. But if you think about it, what’s more perfect with peanut butter than grape jelly, which gives you a point of reference. Our Chardonnay also works well because it’s a delightfully smooth wine with fruit flavors and hints of oak that enhance most food flavors. It’s also crisp and offers good acidity to balance the higher fat content and rich mouthfeel of peanut butter. Savor the dark side by pairing Biltmore Estate® Limited Release Mourvédre with peppermint patties Savor the dark side While chocolate is frequently served with red wine, the combination of dark chocolate and a strong mint filling makes pairing classic peppermint patties a bit of a challenge, but we say it’s okay to savor the dark side with our Biltmore Estate® Limited Release Mourvédre. This wine offers wonderful aromas of black cherry, vanilla, and soft oak that carry through to the palate with flavors of chocolate, blueberry, vanilla, subtle hints of cedar, and soft tannins. It has a kind of rustic elegance that complements the sophisticated notes of dark chocolate and peppermint. Create a sweet-and-sour surprise by pairing Biltmore Estate® Sauvignon Blanc with sour gummy candy! Sweet-and-sour surprise This is another surprising pairing, mostly because nobody thinks about trying sweet-and-sour Halloween candy with wine—especially an elegant white varietal like Sauvignon Blanc! The pairing works on two levels, beginning with the bright citrus aromas of Biltmore Estate® Sauvignon Blanc that complement the playful scent of the candy. Smell them separately and you’ll start to understand how they can work together. The Sauvignon Blanc is crisp, with refreshing flavors of peach and a touch of minerality that keeps the candy from being overly sweet, making them perfect partners for each other. Cheer to pairing Halloween candy with your favorite Biltmore wines! Halloween how-to with Biltmore wine Ready to try our Halloween how-to and savor Biltmore wines at home with your favorite trick-or-treat candy? Find our award-winning wines at Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, online, or close to home with our Retail Locator.
Raise A Glass To Our Newest Masterpiece Posted on March 8, 2023 at 8:31 pm.Written by Jean Sexton Raise a glass to our newest masterpiece—a delightful blend created exclusively for the 2023 release of our Masterpiece Collection White Wine. Tasting notes Sip something special this spring and summer with the 2023 release of our Masterpiece Collection White Wine. Crisp, smooth, and refreshing, this off-dry white wine was handcrafted to honor George Vanderbilt’s legacy as a passionate collector of extraordinary art and exceptional vintages. It echoes the return of warm weather with citrus and orange blossom aromas, plus wonderful flavors of honeydew, lime, and peach. Inspired by a masterpiece of preservation The hand-painted ceramic tiles on the overmantel above the fireplace in the Tyrolean Chimney Room provided inspiration for our 2023 Masterpiece Collection White Wine labels. For 2023, our Masterpiece Collection White Wine features a set of four labels inspired by hand-painted floral tiles on the overmantel of an 18th-century tile stove known as a kachelöfen that George Vanderbilt likely purchased in his European travels, possibly in Switzerland. Created in the 18th century, the kachelöfen in Biltmore’s Tyrolean Chimney Room is made of tin-glazed earthenware tiles hand-painted with exquisite floral designs. Each of the tin-glazed earthenware tiles is adorned with a lovely bouquet of lush blooms. While the tile was in relatively good condition for its age, Biltmore’s conservators spent hundreds of hours cleaning and in-painting damaged areas of the overmantel in conjunction with the Louis XV Suite restoration project. Our conservators carefully restored the hand-painted tiles in the Tyrolean Chimney Room. The painstaking work required a combination of conservation experience and artistic ability. The results show the vivid colors and delicate florals that inspired the room’s striking design. Choosing the label “We chose the bouquets on these floral tiles as the label for our new Masterpiece Collection White Wine because the blooms are so beautiful, and they capture the feel of warmer weather and the desire all of us feel to enjoy the outdoors during spring and summer,” said Lisa Vogel, Art Director. In fact, all of the tiles were so unique that Lisa couldn’t choose just one for the 2023 Masterpiece Collection label; she selected four separate tiles and created a whole set! The press sheet for our Masterpiece Collection White Wine shows different versions of the labels. “When you see the four labels together, you may notice slight variations in the background behind each bouquet,” Lisa said. “That’s because of the age of the original tiles and the fact that they were painted by hand—it gives them subtle shadings and textures that we worked to preserve in these lovely labels.” Pairing this masterpiece with your favorite flavors Perfect with your favorite warm-weather fare, our Masterpiece Collection White Wine is also refreshing as the base of a refreshing white sangria! Our Masterpiece Collection White Wine pairs perfectly with the lighter fare we favor during warmer weather. It’s perfect for spring and summer sipping and entertaining, this wine pairs well with classic fare such as pasta Alfredo and lighter seafood dishes like crab, fried oysters, and salmon. Make a moment memorable by packing a bottle for your next picnic, or enjoy it with friends at brunch or lunch. In addition, you can stir up a cool, refreshing pitcher of Refreshing White Sangria with our Masterpiece Collection White Wine. Enjoy with friends and freeze any leftovers for a fun take on grown-up popsicles or slushies. Select this special masterpiece for spring! Indulge your senses with our delicious Masterpiece Collection White Wine. If you’re looking for a special gift for spring and summer occasions such as Easter, Mother’s Day, bridal luncheons, weddings, and college graduations, this wine’s one-of-a-kind labels make each bottle a charming gift for flower lovers and those who appreciate all things Biltmore. Look for our 2023 Masterpiece Collection White Wine in estate shops and online while supplies last*. *If you order online, your shipment will contain one or more of the label designs chosen at random.
Pairing Our Gardens with Biltmore White Wines Posted on May 6, 2019 at 12:00 am.Written by Jean Sexton Looking for expert advice in selecting wines for spring entertaining? Be inspired by our playful pairing of our beautiful gardens with Biltmore white wines! Nothing could be finer than sipping our Biltmore Reserve North Carolina Rosé with all your favorite flavors! Outdoor entertaining with Biltmore Wines From patios to picnics to pool parties, here’s a basic tip on serving and appreciating wine outdoors in spring: “Just follow the ‘20-Minute Rule’,” said Spencer Knight, Winery Tours Supervisor. “Remove white wine from the refrigerator 20–30 minutes prior to serving so the flavor profile has a chance to expand.” Put Biltmore wines on your “bucket list” for summer sipping! According to Spencer, it’s also a good idea to return open wine bottles to a container of ice and water between refills, especially if you’re entertaining outside in warmer weather. Pairing Biltmore white wines with our historic gardens Enjoy warm weather sipping with Biltmore white wines by the glass or bottle In addition to pairing the distinct “personalities” of Biltmore’s historic gardens and grounds with our refreshing white wines, you’ll also find suggestions for white wine pairings with your favorite seasonal flavors. Diana at Biltmore Statue of Diana overlooking Biltmore House This elegant site overlooking Biltmore House offers a classic setting that calls to mind Biltmore’s outstanding sparkling wines. Brighten any special occasion with our Pas de Deux Moscato—handcrafted in traditional méthode champenoise to create fine, tiny bubbles. This aromatic semi-sweet sparkler features the essence of orange blossom and flavors of wild strawberry and lemon. Enjoy with fresh fruit, chocolate covered strawberries, or cheesecake. Spring in the Shrub Garden Colorful spring blooms in Biltmore’s Shrub Garden Savor the beauty of Biltmore’s Shrub Garden—a picture-perfect pairing for Biltmore Estate Riesling as the wine’s fresh and fragrant style is reminiscent of early-blooming spring shrubs. Beautifully balanced with sweet apricot aromas, light honey flavors, and a crisp finish, Biltmore’s Riesling makes a surprisingly savory companion to spicy Thai dishes as well as fruity desserts. A classic wine pairing for the Walled Garden White wisteria blooming in the Walled Garden Stroll the paths of this grand garden and enjoy the sun-warmed stone walls that enfold you with tradition, much like the classic taste of our Biltmore Estate Chardonnay. Smooth and balanced with subtle floral aromas, crisp fruit flavors, and hints of oak, Biltmore’s Chardonnay shines when served with favorites including chicken and grilled vegetables, pasta with cream sauce, and even hard-to-pair fare like squash dishes. Our Rose Garden paired with a special rosé Biltmore’s historic Rose Garden in front of the Conservatory Biltmore’s rambling rose garden is a perfect match for our Biltmore Reserve North Carolina Rosé 2022. Crafted from select North Carolina Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, our pretty-in-pink rosé blossoms with beautiful color, layered aromas, and flavors of red berries, tropical fruits, and a hint of spice. Enjoy with cheese plates and pizza. Pairing our Spring Release Wine with the Azalea Garden Azaleas blooming at Biltmore in late spring The informal feel and bright colors of the Azalea Garden make it a natural match for our fragrant and food-friendly Biltmore Spring Release White Wine. Handcrafted to capture the essence of the season, this is the perfect wine for warmer weather and picnics. You can also spice up spring by pairing it with zesty sausage and Indian food! Pair Biltmore wines with all your favorite flavors this spring Savor Biltmore wines now Whether you’re stocking up on favorite varietals or trying new ones, you can purchase Biltmore wines online or close to home through our Retailer Locator.