Biltmore Becomes a Port Authority Posted on November 1, 2016 at 12:00 am.Written by Ellie Garst If you think the phrase “any old port in a storm” also applies to port-style wines, think again: the pleasure of sipping a fine port makes it worth the effort of selecting something truly special. The origin of Port As the name suggests, Porto or Port originated in Portugal—a country with a long grape-growing and wine-producing history. Port is a type of fortified wine, similar in some respects to sherry, Madeira, Marsala, or vermouth. While most fortified wines are created by adding some type of distilled spirit (such as brandy) after fermentation, distilled spirit is added to Port wines during fermentation, which effectively kills the actively fermenting yeast. Without yeast to consume it, residual sugar levels in the wine remain high, providing Port with its characteristically sweet flavor. Becoming a “Port authority” As with Champagnes and wines of other protected designations of origin, Port can only be labeled such if it originates in the Douro River region of Portugal. When our winemakers began the lengthy process of crafting this style of wine at Biltmore, they knew it would have to be labeled “dessert-style,” which is the legal wording for Ports that are not from the Douro. “Although our new port-type wine cannot be labeled Port,” said Heather Jordan, Biltmore Wine Marketing Director, “it is handcrafted here at Biltmore from the traditional Portuguese grapes that would be grown in the Douro region, including Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Cão, Tinta Amarela, and Souzão.” Our winemakers carefully selected these varietals from our California vineyard partners who also supply outstanding fruit for some of our Biltmore Wines and the producers of some of the finest American port-style wines. “They’ve created a wonderful tawny port,” Heather said, “which refers to the aging process. The tawny designation means that the port has been barrel-aged for at least two years and some oxidation has occurred, deepening the rich notes of nuts and caramel that you’d expect to taste in a more mature port.” Introducing Ventágeo “Ventágeo is a first for us,” Heather said. “It is a very traditional port-style wine, and the name combines elements of the Portuguese word for wind with the first letters of George Vanderbilt’s name to create a word that suggests voyage and travel.” Ventágeo honors George Vanderbilt’s journeys around the globe and the treasures—including fine wines—he carefully chose for his private estate. Intense, handcrafted flavor featuring rich layers of sun-dried stone fruit drizzled with hints of caramel and ripe berries makes Ventágeo a stunning finish for any meal or special moment. Featured image: Ventágeo in the Champagne Cellar First image: Winemaker Sharon Fenchak gives guests a preview of Ventágeo at our Vineyard Harvest Celebration in October Final image: A closer look at the Ventágeo label
Decorating Biltmore’s most massive mantel Posted on October 27, 2016 at 12:00 am.Written by Ellie Garst Please enjoy this archived content from a Christmas past. For our grand annual events such as Biltmore Blooms and Christmas at Biltmore, America’s largest home is decorated according to a broad theme. This year’s theme of “Hearth and Home” is beautifully illustrated by the special attention paid to the many fireplaces and mantels throughout Biltmore House during the Christmas season. From lavish Bohemian-style beading on the fireplace surround in the Breakfast Room to magnificent garlands with elegant gold tassels in the Library, our Floral team has created a breathtaking holiday display to amaze all the guests who visit from early November to early January. In the Banquet Hall—always a showcase of seasonal spirit during Christmas at Biltmore—the triple fireplaces are decked in grand style. United by a massive limestone mantel, the fireplaces feature a double swag of greenery bursting with bright bows, twinkling lights, and decorative winter boughs. The swags frame Karl Bitter’s detailed carving entitled “The Return from the Hunt” that illustrates a scene from Wagner’s epic Tannhäuser opera. (In the photo above, you’ll note that the heavy garland is decorated in layers to add depth and richness. At the stage seen here, the lights are not in place and the bows will be further refined into rosettes. Floral will also load the greenery with frosty branches and other elements of botanical interest.) According to Eugenia Halyburton Chandler, daughter of estate employee James A. Halyburton, the Banquet Hall triple fireplaces were an especially important part of the estate’s Christmas festivities during the 1920s and ‘30s. As a child, Eugenia recalled how Cornelia’s husband John Cecil—dressed as Santa Claus—would hide inside one of the triple fireplaces on a ledge above the opening. During the Christmas party for estate employees, Mr. Cecil would pop out and delight all the children in attendance. In the image below, you see the completed garland aglow for Christmas at Biltmore and Candlelight Christmas Evenings. Enjoy this merriest time of the year now through January 8, 2017.
Decking Our Halls Is A Year-Round Process Posted on October 25, 2016 at 12:00 am.Written by Ellie Garst From miles of garlands and hundreds of wreaths to thousands of lights and decorations on more than 50 trees inside America’s Largest Home®, our annual Christmas at Biltmore celebration is guaranteed to put you in a festive holiday mood! But where does it all come from each year? How and when does it start? We asked members of Biltmore’s Floral team to give us a behind-the-scenes look at creating such a spectacular holiday happening. A design storyboard featuring sample ornaments, ribbon, and photos for inspiration A year of planning “All the Christmas decorations you see this year began to take shape more than 12 months ago,” said Lizzie Borchers, Floral Displays Manager. “Our team spends several early December mornings walking through Biltmore House before guests arrived. We evaluate what’s great and what we might do again in another room,” Lizzie said. “We already know the following year’s theme, and our designers are eager to choose the rooms they want. Sometimes it’s like a bidding war—they have to sell me on their ideas.” The selection process Rooms are decorated according to an annual theme that changes each year, and the Floral team also takes cues from style elements of the room such as the predominant colors, art and furnishings, or the way in which the room was used. The Library, for example, might feature books among its decorations while the Main Kitchen could include wreaths of dried bay leaves or other culinary ingredients. Creating the designs, selecting the decorations, and deciding whether fresh plants or other ancillary materials should be included takes months of careful planning and review by the lead designer for each room, with input and assistance from the entire team. Design sheets and ornaments for inspiration As they decide on specific rooms for which they’d like to take responsibility during the December walk-through, team members choose some ornaments as they go; others are chosen from Biltmore’s warehouse a few months later. Some ornaments are new, purchased at the Atlanta Gift Mart each March. Each designer then develops a kind of storyboard featuring a sample basket of ornaments and detailed design sheets to show Lizzie the look and feel of their plans. The designs are tweaked and approved as early as possible so the team can begin locating or creating any additional pieces needed to complete the scene. Meanwhile, the Christmas trees are stored upright in Floral’s warehouse (sometimes called the tree farm) in spots reserved specifically for them. By early summer, team members have gone over all the tree lights to make sure they are in good condition and they’ve placed orders for plants such as fresh poinsettias to arrive at the proper time. For the next few months, the remaining decorations needed for each area are created. Grand Staircase Christmas tree in Biltmore House Putting it all together During the entire month of October, our Floral Displays team is busy decking the halls and rooms of Biltmore House. Guests enjoy watching Christmas at Biltmore come to life and tell us it often inspires ideas for their own homes. Featured image: a vintage children’s book inspires Christmas decorations at Biltmore
Fall Garden Maintenance at Biltmore Posted on October 18, 2016 at 12:00 am.Written by Ellie Garst As fall beauty begins to blanket the estate, our dedicated garden crew is busy preparing the grounds for cooler temperatures. Of course, the blowing and raking of leaves is a seemingly never-ending task among the crew this time of year, but here’s a peek into a few of their other duties. After their summertime glory, Marc Montrell (pictured) is working to gather fading lilies from the Italian Garden ponds over the next few weeks. Along with all of our raked leaves across the estate, they will be composted. Many of our guests ask what happens to the koi during this time, but they actually remain in the ponds and hibernate over winter! There are still many gorgeous blooms in the Rose Garden, but there is a lot of pruning and “deadheading” to be done over the next couple of weeks. A preliminary trim to mid-height is done in late November, with the final cutting in late winter when the roses are dormant. Gardener John Smith (pictured) notes that this method may not apply in other gardens, at Biltmore’s Rose Garden acts as it’s own ecosystem, protected by the stone walls which retain heat and offer protection from the wind. The Garden crew recently planted winter evergreens such as Blue Spruce, Hemlock and Magnolia trees in the large pots along Biltmore’s front door. Gardner Clare Whittington (pictured) notes that watering these potted trees must be done frequently, and are constantly monitored during freezing temperatures in the winter. No matter what time of year guests visit, this wonderful team works hard to ensure the gardens and grounds are beautiful. Visit the Gardens & Grounds section of our website for more information about what’s featured throughout the year.
A renaissance for Roussanne Posted on October 18, 2016 at 12:00 am.Written by Ellie Garst Receipts in Biltmore’s archives document that George Vanderbilt purchased and consumed wine on a regular basis, both at Biltmore and during his travels. Records of some trips, including one to Europe in 1891, are especially comprehensive. From receipts it’s clear that Vanderbilt enjoyed a variety of wines and that they were almost always of French origin. With that in mind, we’d like to introduce you to one of Biltmore’s newest wines. Meet Roussanne—a standard in the Rhône region of France and now a rising star in the U.S. Maddening & majestic Described as both “maddening and majestic” by some growers, the late-blooming Roussanne is notoriously difficult to ripen and often yields less fruit than other varietals. Named for its rusty appearance when mature, Roussanne may include shades of rust, gold, and green grapes in a single cluster, signifying multiple levels of ripeness which, in turn, may affect the flavor of the finished wine. Once cultivated mainly in Europe, Roussanne now seems to be thriving around Santa Barbara, which tends to experience cooler temperatures than the rest of California’s wine regions. This inherent coolness combines with Pacific breezes and fogs to extend the growing season, allowing Roussanne to ripen completely without developing too much sweetness during the heat of late summer. What to expect Cool-climate Roussanne wines open with an intriguing floral aroma reminiscent of herbal tea. The taste features a complex richness associated with stone fruits such as peaches and apricots, and a surprisingly “oily” texture gives Roussanne a mouth-feel similar to red wines rather than white ones. When our winemakers discover exceptional grapes such as Roussanne grown by our California partners, they are inspired to create distinctive wines for the Limited Release series. Handcrafted in small lots, this series allows you to experience their skillful artistry in each bottle. Our Limited Release Roussanne Refreshing and easy to drink, our Biltmore Estate Limited Release Roussanne features flavors of lime, kiwi, lemon, and tangerine. It pairs well seafood, including spicy dishes such as the traditional bouillabaisse of southern France. It also provides a nice complement to Asian cuisine, which can be a challenge for most wines. For our Vanderbilt Wine Club members, we have crafted a delicious Biltmore Estate Limited Release Roussanne-Viognier blend available exclusively to them. The two varietals combine to create a delightfully rich, full-bodied wine featuring good tannin structure plus flavors of red berries and vanilla.
Christmas at Biltmore: Adding it all up Posted on October 15, 2016 at 12:00 am.Written by Ellie Garst Decorating America’s largest home for the holiday season is certainly no small task. Christmas at Biltmore is one of the Southeast’s most storied Yuletide destinations and we know that expectations are set pretty high. Yet the beauty of Biltmore adorned for the season never disappoints, a remarkable testament to the expertise of our Floral staff. Each January, before the holiday decorations are taken down, our designers and reserve team start planning for next Christmas. Designs and arrangements vary from year to year, meaning every wreath, ornament, and bow is selected or created precisely for its intended location that holiday season. The amount of imagination and preparation required is staggering, not to mention the sheer volume of décor. So besides a talented crew and a full year, what exactly does it take to create Christmas at Biltmore? Christmas Trees The 2016 celebration boasts 62 decorated Christmas trees inside Biltmore House. The largest tree in Biltmore House is the Vanderbilt traditional 35-foot-tall Fraser fir in the Banquet Hall. It takes about 50 Biltmore staff members to carry the tree through the house and raise it safely and securely into place. An illuminated 55-foot-tall Norway spruce stands on the Front Lawn of Biltmore House, along with 20 other lit evergreens. A total of 44 additional decorated Christmas trees can be found at other locations across the estate, including Antler Hill Village & Winery, The Inn on Biltmore Estate, Village Hotel on Biltmore Estate, and our restaurants. The Conservatory is decorated with “trees” made of potted plants and other natural materials. Over 30 live trees and shrubs are used to decorate other estate buildings. Lights and Candles About 30,000 lights and 150 candles are used in Biltmore House. More than 135,000 LED and mini lights twinkle across the estate. The Front Lawn tree is illuminated by 55,000 lights. An additional 20,000 are used on the surrounding trees and shrubs. Lit at dusk, 300 luminaries line the driveway and Esplanade in front of Biltmore House. Ornaments The Banquet Hall tree is trimmed with 500 ornaments, 500 LED Edison style light bulbs, and 500 wrapped gift boxes. There are 13,000 ornaments decorating the other trees inside Biltmore House and another 13,000 used in other areas of the estate. Poinsettias and Other Blooming Plants There are over 1,000 traditional poinsettias on display as well as over 1,000 other bloom plants including amaryllis, Christmas cactus, orchids, peace lilies, cyclamen, begonias, and kalanchoe. Wreaths Our wreaths are made of fresh white pine and Fraser fir, ornamented with golden arborvitae, holly, or other natural materials like twigs and cones. Artificial bases are decorated with ornaments, berries, faux flowers, and ribbon. There are 360 fresh wreaths and sprays along with 130 faux pieces throughout the estate during the season. Kissing Balls There are 100 orbs made of fresh white pine and Fraser fir or dried and faux materials decorating the estate. Garlands A total of 7,527 feet of fresh white pine and Fraser fir garlanding adorns the estate, all of which is replaced weekly for freshness and fragrance. An additional 1,200 feet for faux garlanding is used in Biltmore House with another 1,500 feet used across the estate. Ribbons and Bows There are 500 bows used in Biltmore House and about 1,000 used in other areas of the estate. Base materials vary from narrow cording to 8-inch-wide ribbon, decorated with velvets, metallics, satins, burlap, printed cottons, and more.
“Polar Express Sunbelt” sweeps the 2016 Biltmore International Rose Trials Posted on October 12, 2016 at 12:00 am.Written by Karina Hux A jury of rose experts from around the world has selected the winning roses in the 2016 Biltmore International Rose Trials, held recently in Biltmore’s historic Rose Garden. Polar Express Sunbelt (photo above), bred by Kordes (KORblixmu), took the top award: the George and Edith Vanderbilt Award for Most Outstanding Rose of the Trials. Since 2011, Biltmore’s historic Rose Garden has been home to the trials in which more than 150 varieties from growers and breeders worldwide have been planted and cared for by Biltmore’s expert horticulturalists. In addition to winning Best in Show, Polar Express Sunbelt won the Edith Wharton Award for Best Floribunda, and the William Cecil Award for Best Growth Habit. Additional winners this year were: Honeymoon Arborose, bred by Kordes (KORhemtra), winner of the Gilded Age Award for Best Climber and the Lord Burleigh Award for Most Disease Resistant Double 10, bred by Ping Lim (LIM10), winner of the Pauline Merrell Award for Best Hybrid Tea The Lark Ascending, bred by David Austin Roses (Ausursula), winner of the Chauncey Beadle Award for Best Shrub Each trial lasts two years and a permanent jury judges the roses four times per year. This year’s final round of competition started with 31 entries planted in 2014 from Canada, the U.S., France, Ireland, Great Britain and Germany. Trials of this type are open to rose breeders around the world – from professional to beginner. Competing roses are evaluated for overall health and rigor; fragrance; disease resistance; and ability to repeat bloom. Congratulations to all of the winners! Biltmore's Rose Garden receives Award of Garden Excellence During the trials event, Biltmore’s rosarian Emily Wilson and past American Rose Society president Jolene Adams unveiled an award in honor of Biltmore’s historic Rose Garden: the World Federation of Rose Societies Award of Garden Excellence. Biltmore’s rose garden is one of only 10 gardens in the United States and 62 worldwide to receive it. Susan Fox, one of the Rose Trials jurors, tells us that gardeners and garden lovers travel just to see the gardens that receive this award. We are honored to have received it!
Renovating America’s Most-Visited Winery Posted on October 7, 2016 at 12:00 am.Written by Ellie Garst Please enjoy this archived content from 2016 In 1985, George Vanderbilt’s grandson William A.V. Cecil opened a new state-of-the-art winery in what had been an original estate dairy barn. Little did we know that within a few years, it would become the most-visited winery in the U.S., welcoming a significant portion of our one million and more annual guests to tour our production facility and taste our award-winning wines. Renovation begins Three decades have passed since the opening, and the time was right to renovate the Biltmore Winery, expanding its capacity to host more visitors and creating new space for our programs and offerings. The initial phase of the project focused on updating the smaller Tasting Room plus the addition of a new Tasting Room. Construction began in Fall 2015—with a break for all the lively holiday celebrations—and was completed in time for a special Passholder preview event in April 2016. Signature event In August 2016, the second phase of renovation started in the main Tasting Room. During this time, Biltmore Passholders and Vanderbilt Wine Club members were given the opportunity to become part of the project by signing pieces of lumber that would be used in the main Tasting Room. Though covered in the final stages of construction, their signatures, comments, and well wishes are a wonderful tribute to our winemakers and hosts–and Mr. Cecil’s vision to add a vineyard and a winery to his grandfather’s estate. In just one month of busy days, nights, and weekends, the dedicated construction team completed the project—with beautiful results! While it was difficult to have the main Tasting Room under construction, our Winery staff handled it with grace and professionalism to ensure all guests still enjoyed the true Biltmore experience. Mission accomplished Our main Tasting Room officially opened on September 1, just in time for our annual NC Wine Month celebration. Not only is the space more aesthetically pleasing, but the renovation also provides added benefits to our guests, such as shorter wait times on busy days, more room to interact with the Winery hosts, and a more open, comfortable setting to enjoy Biltmore wines. We invite you to join us soon and discover all our newly-renovated Winery has to offer!
A Romantic Legacy Posted on October 4, 2016 at 12:00 am.Written by Danielle Withrow William Amherst Vanderbilt Cecil, the younger son of Cornelia and John F. A. Cecil, was born at Biltmore in 1928. He attended schools in England and Switzerland before serving in the British Navy. After earning a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University, William worked as a banker in the international department of Chase Manhattan Bank in New York City. It was there that he met his future wife Mary “Mimi” Lee Ryan, daughter of textile manufacturer John J. Ryan, Jr., and granddaughter of prominent New York banker, lawyer, and builder James T. Lee. Mimi received her undergraduate degree from Vassar College and her law degree from the University of Michigan. Prior to her marriage, she was an attorney with the Manhattan firm of Cadwalader, Wickersham, and Taft. A romantic beginning The Cecils married on October 5, 1957, at St. Vincent Ferrer’s Roman Catholic Church in New York City. The bride wore a gown of white satin with a fitted bodice and a full skirt forming a cathedral train. She carried a lush bouquet of white roses, stephanotis, and English ivy. Her veil was a family heirloom originally worn in 1903 by her maternal grandmother, Margaret Merritt Lee, and also worn by her first cousin, Jacqueline Lee Bouvier, at her 1953 wedding to future U.S. President John F. Kennedy. After the ceremony, a reception was held at the elegant River Club in the city. In 1959, the Cecils moved to Asheville, North Carolina to manage Biltmore, the grand country estate created by Mr. Cecil’s grandfather George Vanderbilt. Their two children grew up in the family business whose mission is preserving Biltmore as a privately owned, profitable working estate. Today, William Cecil, Jr. serves as Biltmore’s CEO and Diana “Dini” Cecil Pickering is president of the Family Office. The Biltmore Legacy Today, estate guests have an opportunity to visit The Biltmore Legacy located in Antler Hill Village and view our Fashionable Romance exhibition featuring family wedding history and heirlooms, including Mrs. Cecil’s beautiful wedding gown, subsequently worn by her daughter-in-law Virginia Cecil and her daughter Dini Pickering. The Lee Family Veil is also displayed in the exhibition along with a stunning recreation of the gown worn by Mr. Cecil’s mother Cornelia Vanderbilt Cecil and her original satin slippers. This outstanding collection of wedding-related fashion offers a rare glimpse into the lives of the fascinating family that has preserved Biltmore for generations to come.
Fall Arrives in Biltmore’s Gardens Posted on September 15, 2016 at 12:00 am.Written by Karina Hux When Frederick Law Olmsted designed Biltmore’s gardens, he planned their beauty to last through all four seasons. It’s little wonder the blooms of the estate’s gardens continue well into fall. In the formal gardens, the show continues with carefully planted flowers designed to blossom through cooler temperatures. In the Walled Garden, an array of fall mums provide color from late September though the end of October. This year’s color show will include orange, lilac, golden yellow, and royal purple buds in the pattern beds and blazing bronze blooms under the arbors. Rose lovers can enjoy a sneak peek of the judging of the annual International Rose Trials on September 24. Since 2011, the estate’s historic Rose Garden has served as the home for the trials. More than 90 varieties from growers and breeders worldwide have been planted and cared for by Biltmore’s horticulturalists. Each trial lasts two years, with a permanent jury judging the roses four times each year. The glory of fall blooms continues through the estate’s informal gardens. The Azalea Garden, filled with 15 acres of native azaleas, enjoys a second bloom in the fall. The area’s other gardens are also alive with late blooming annuals, perennials, and vibrant leaves on the estate’s native and exotic trees. Those looking to learn from Biltmore’s gardening experts can enjoy free demonstrations at A Gardener’s Place shop, located below the Conservatory. Available every Tuesday at 1 p.m. from September 6 through October 19, the complimentary session provides a quick lesson on Success with Succulents. All attendees receive a 20% coupon towards the purchase of a succulent in the shop. For those looking for fall color beyond the gardens, a scenic drive through the estate provides a wonderful opportunity to slow down and savor views of forests flush with color and panoramic vistas. The road by the Reception & Ticketing Sales Center is populated by vibrant orange and red sugar maple trees, while an afternoon drive by the Bass Pond offers views of bright fall foliage backlit by the afternoon sun. A trip to Antler Hill Village & Winery provides the chance to drive by the Lagoon and enjoy views of the house’s western facade framed by vibrant leaves. The promise of fall color begins in early September and continues until late October, making any time a perfect time to experience autumn on the estate.