Spa at Home Experience

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Few things in life are as relaxing as a visit to a luxurious spa.

How can you get create the same feeling in your own home? We asked the experts at The Spa, located in the Inn on Biltmore Estate, for some do-it-yourself ideas that anyone can enjoy.

 Soak it up

A long soak in a hot tub can work miracles for tired muscles and a stressed mind. Treat yourself—or someone special—to a soothing experience with our Biltmore Bath & Body products. The clean, refreshing fragrances of this collection offer peace of mind and help relax your senses while moisturizing your skin. Try our Foaming Shower Gel for your home spa soak (or shower, if your time is limited). Follow up with Shea Butter Body Lotion and Hand Lotion to make the experience last even longer.

 

Indulge in the entire paraben-free Biltmore Bath & Body collection crafted with exceptional ingredients and featuring alluring scents such as Blood Orange, Black Orchid, The Gardens, Blackberries and Cream, and more.

Shop the complete Biltmore Bath & Body Collection at Belk.  

Spa Tip: to stay hydrated, be sure to drink plenty of tepid water while you are soaking.

Throw in the towel

 While enjoying your home-spa soak, you may want to roll up a towel to place behind your neck. This will cushion you from the harder surface of the tub and help keep your face dry.

Ready to unlock spa secrets to lush locks? While soaking or showering, apply a moisturizing treatment to your hair (try salon recommendations or make your own home-based version). Wrap hair in a towel and relax while the treatment does its work.

Group of Belk blue and white Legacy Towels

Enjoy our luxurious Biltmore For Your Home towels, available at Belk in four collections: Legacy, Century, Chateau, and Everyday Luxury.

Shop all Biltmore For Your Home Towels at Belk.  

Spa Tip: to enhance your home spa experience, use towels in calming colors such as greens and blues.

Wrap it up

Whether you’re opting for a luxurious spa soak, a rejuvenating shower, or simply trying to carve out a bit of time for yourself, go ahead and schedule those precious minutes each week. Otherwise, it’s easy to forego the time you need to relax your mind, recharge your spirits, and refresh your body!

Nonsense and a Very Good Time

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To mark the turning of 1901 into 1902, George and Edith Vanderbilt hosted a house party for 20 of the movers and shakers of Boston and New York society. Among the revelers that year were Larz Anderson, an American diplomat who had served in Rome and London, and his wife Isabel, an author of children’s books and travelogues.

Nonsense Book - Biltmore HouseTo commemorate the week-long festivities, Larz left an illustration in the Vanderbilts’ “Nonsense Book,” a bound leather volume full of notes and scribbles, rhymes and limericks inspired by one of George Vanderbilt’s favorite authors, Edward Lear. With entries from many of the Vanderbilts’ guests, the Nonsense Book gives us a glimpse into the various entertainment activities held at Biltmore.

Larz’ doodle is one of my very favorites in the “Nonsense Book.” Drawn as if it were a scrap from George’s print collection, the top reads: “For the Dürer Room – In Memory of New Years Week MCMII.” The “Dürer Room” refers to a den off of the Library where George Vanderbilt displayed many of his prints by the famed artist Albrecht Dürer, a brilliant German virtuoso of the late 1400 and early 1500s.  Dürer’s prints, including The Triumphal Arch of Maximilian which now hangs in the Music Room, are museum-quality masterpieces that one wouldn’t expect to find in a private home.

Larz was impressed with Vanderbilt’s collection of engravings and was struck by the design and layout of Biltmore House, reporting to his mother by letter that “well, we all agree it is the finest thing in America – and one of the finest in the world….” Their week started off with several days of bad weather, but a few days into their stay, Larz wrote “today is beautiful… the air is magnificent and yesterday I had a ten mile climb over the mountains.”

Apparently, Larz also got in a good bit of bicycling during his stay. Echoing Dürer’s artistic style, Anderson draws himself astride a bike peddling across the estate and past the Esplanade.  A small figure labeled “AD” for Albrecht Dürer follows a path toward the eastern façade of Biltmore House.  Anderson labeled the cartoon of himself with his initials, “LA,” in the same distinctive script that Dürer used to sign his works. Larz’s doodle documents the mountainous scenery he enjoyed firsthand and the fine weather that finished out the first week of their new year. And, quite amusingly, he references several of the Vanderbilt family’s St. Bernards, including Cedric and his mate Snow, who presumably could often be found flopped down on Biltmore’s gleaming herringbone floors in a manner resembling a polar bear rug.

An iteration of the original “Nonsense Book” is still in use today. It resides in the lobby of the Inn on Biltmore Estate, and our guests are welcome to sign it and describe their adventures during their stay.

About the Photos

Top: Larz Anderson left his amusing mark in the Vanderbilt “Nonsense Book,” detailing his frequent bicycle rides around the estate.

Inset: The original “Nonsense Book,” from the Vanderbilt archives.

What's Cooking?

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Belk Cookware Set

Looking for a thoughtful gift that will be used all the time? Our Biltmore chefs have partnered with Belk to create quality cookware to delight the culinarians in your life. From novice to experienced cook, this 13-piece set of cookware will help ensure professional quality results from the kitchen!

 

 

Shop the collection at Belk here.

Biltmore vs. "Downton Abbey" – Notice any similarities?

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We are so excited about this Sunday’s season premier of “Downton Abbey” on PBS. And it’s no wonder!

The fictional drama unfolding between Lord and Lady Grantham, their daughters and their staff overlaps the time when George and Edith Vanderbilt lived in Biltmore House, which bears a striking resemblance to the Crawley’s beloved home. Those similarities are particularly evident during two of our specialty tours: The Biltmore House Butler’s Tour and the Vanderbilt Family & Friends Tour.

These tours allow our guests glimpses into some of the little-seen areas of Biltmore House while guides discuss the people who worked for and visited the Vanderbilts when it was their primary home. Following are some of those the parallels between life depicted on the fictional program, and life in Biltmore House.

On the Biltmore House Butler’s Tour

Housekeeper’s Room:  Biltmore had Mrs. King; for “Downton Abbey,” it’s Mrs. Hughes. While there were differences in the ways American and English households were managed, the housekeeper played a major role. Mrs. Hughes is known for her collection of house keys and her calm demeanor. Mrs. King served as Biltmore House’s housekeeper and was remembered for her own massive ring of keys.

Butler’s Pantry:  Carson, the butler in “Downton Abbey,” was instrumental in managing how meals were served to the Crawley family and their visitors. The Butler’s Pantry shows where the Vanderbilts’ butler would have organized the staff and meal service.

Technology:  Telephones, call boxes, speaking tubes, electric lights, etc., were extremely rare items in the early 1900s. In “Downton Abbey,” there are scenes where the family and staff are uncomfortable around and hesitant to use these new technologies. George Vanderbilt outfitted his home with all of the modern technologies of the day.

On the Vanderbilt Family & Friends Tour

Louis XVI Room:  A writing desk takes up a central area of this bedroom, at a large window overlooking the front lawn of Biltmore House. Letter writing in the era was a crucial means of communicating the news of the day. As such, a writing desk is included in each guest room. On “Downton Abbey,” the characters shared letters filled with news of the day at the breakfast table.

Van Dyck Room:  The story of Edith Wharton, a frequent visitor at Biltmore House, is told in the Van Dyck Room. Wharton chronicled changing times, including the emergence of the women’s rights movement and political issues. In “Downton Abbey,” the youngest sister Sybil is portrayed as getting involved in politics and the changing role of women.

Morland Room: In this room, tour hostsdiscuss George and Edith Vanderbilt’s marriage and honeymoon. It’s touching to note that Edith and her three sisters married for love, and were not expected to marry for money or titles (although they all ended up marrying well). In “Downton Abbey,” the eldest daughter Lady Mary is constantly expected and reminded to marry “successfully” in order to keep the family home afloat.

General Themes

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 been a prime concern at Biltmore for George Vanderbilt’s descendants.

American heiresses marrying British nobility:  Another central premise in “Downton Abbey” is based on Cora, an American heiress who married Lord Grantham; he needed her money to keep his ancestral home operating. One of the sources for this storyline is “To Marry An English Lord,” a book detailing how Consuelo Vanderbilt (one of George Vanderbilt’s nieces), was one of the first American heiresses to go to Europe in search of a titled husband. She married the Duke of Marlborough, which started a rush of newly wealthy American girls going overseas in hopes of finding husbands (who needed their money).

About the Photo

This is the Servants’ Dining Hall in Biltmore House. Imagine the conversations that took place around that table when George and Edith Vanderbilt lived in the house!

Pairing A Sweeter White Wine

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Riesling: not just for summer!

Rieslings are considered a bit sweeter than some other white wines and have often been reserved for sipping and serving in warmer weather. We’d like to shake up those assumptions by suggesting that our Biltmore Riesling is surprisingly food-friendly any time of year.

A classic bisque pairing

During the colder months, our winemakers and chefs enjoy pairing Biltmore Riesling with heartier fare such as our Butternut Squash Bisque.

Our Riesling provides an excellent acidic balance to complement the creaminess of this traditional bisque. Though slightly sweet, this wine is not overwhelmed by the savory herbs and hint of nutmeg used to draw out the warm golden flavor of the squash.

Find other unexpected sweeter white wine pairings and tips here.

Butternut Squash Bisque

Serves 4

Ingredients:

•3 butternut squash
• 1 onion, small chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 shallot, chopped
• 16 oz chicken stock or broth
• 12 oz heavy whipping cream
• ½ tsp dried sage
• ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 Tbsp Kosher salt
• 1/2 cup Sherry

Method: Cut squash in half, remove seeds and roast in 350 degree oven for about 40 minutes. Set aside to cool. In a heavy–bottom sauce pot, sauté onions, celery, garlic, and shallots until translucent. Deglaze the pan by adding about 1/2 cup of sherry (or enough to coat the bottom of your pan by about a quarter to half an inch with sherry). Use a wooden spoon to scrape the bottom of the pan and loosen any food particles to dissolve into the liquid. Let simmer to reduce the sherry by 2/3. Peel squash and add pulp to soup pot and bring to a simmer. Add remaining ingredients to soup pot and simmer for an hour. Puree soup with a stick mixer or food processor until smooth. Strain soup and serve.

Biltmore and Roses: a 120-year love affair

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Roses and Biltmore share a 120-year history that began when Fredrick Olmsted first started planning the grounds. When guests visit the Rose Garden, they are walking into a very special part of the estate’s history. Both George and Edith Vanderbilt took an interest in the garden, and they worked closely with Chauncey Beadle, then head of estate landscaping, to make changes to it, and double it in size from its original layout, drafted by Olmsted.  

Historical records contain correspondence from a century ago with many rose nurseries, including Jackson & Perkins. The earliest roses were purchased from Ellwanger & Barry, Mount Hope Nurseries of Rochester, N.Y.; John N. May, Rose Grower of Summit, N.J. (Beadle’s former employer); Penrose Nurseries (Robert Scott & Son) of Philadelphia; Howard Rose Company in California, and numerous other suppliers.

The Biltmore Nursery

The estate’s commercial nursery business also grew and sold many varieties of roses as shown in the Biltmore Rose Catalog. Variety selection, wish lists, and a host of rose-related issues went back and forth between Biltmore and the horticultural companies with which they worked. The Biltmore Nursery was one of the largest plant nurseries in the United States until a 1916 flood destroyed the operation.

After the flood, the idea of a Biltmore nursery remained dormant for some time.  During the 1960s, however, the estate developed and operated a nursery for wholesale and retail sales of ornamental nursery stock and to supply a landscape contracting business, as well as a commercial greenhouse operation for the production of hanging baskets and potted flowers. In the 1990s, another estate nursery venture was developed with plants primarily sold to regional nurseries and garden centers until late 2007.

Biltmore International Rose Trials

A new part of roses at Biltmore are the Biltmore International Rose Trials. Patterned after similar trials all over Europe and under the umbrella of the World Federation of Rose Societies, the trials give breeders from all over the world a place to trial and display their roses. Awards are announced each spring with the judging and a festive awards luncheon. Learn more about this year’s event here.
Drawing from the inspiration started by Mr. Olmsted and brought fully into bloom by Mrs. Vanderbilt, Biltmore is again emerging as an innovator and leader in the world of roses.

Thanks to Paul Zimmerman, exclusive Biltmore Rose Consultant, for his contribution to this piece. He has specialized in roses for nearly 20 years and is the owner of Paul Zimmerman Roses.

Christmas Wishes from Edith

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On Christmas Eve of 1895, George Vanderbilt opened the doors of Biltmore House to welcome family and friends into his home for the first official time. The following day he invited the estate’s many employees and their children into the Banquet Hall where they found a space filled with music, sweet treats and an enormous tree sparkling with lights and laden with gifts for all. In 1898, Mr. Vanderbilt was joined in passing out the presents by his new bride Edith, who was elated with the festive tradition and continued on each year thereafter finding new ways to share the joy of this season. 

Edith’s good friend Anna Wheeler, the wife of the estate’s veterinarian, often helped the Vanderbilts organize exceptional holiday events such as theatrical readings of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol for estate employees.  In an unpublished memoir, Anna reflected back on these special times and the many ways in which Edith carried the true spirit of Christmas year-round.

[Her] work among the mountaineers [and] the charm of her personality soon made her a friend of all who were fortunate enough to know her…. celebrations … were held in the banqueting hall of Biltmore House…. The brilliant tree, in its magnificent setting, the faces of those surrounding it, and the beautiful and gracious hostess are never to be forgotten.

A decade after George Vanderbilt’s death, Edith remarried, settling in Rhode Island and Washington, DC with her husband Senator Peter Gerry.  She dedicated much of her time to political endeavors, particularly to supporting those serving in the military and to promoting literacy and educational efforts.  And though she did not reside at Biltmore full-time, it’s touching to know that she, too, never forgot.  Nestled snugly among papers in our archives are many decades of holiday greetings sent between the former Mrs. Vanderbilt and estate superintendent Chauncey Beadle.  Edith wrote year after year sending her love and best Christmas wishes to those living and working on the estate.

To me, the century-old holiday traditions here illustrate how deeply the Vanderbilts treasured family and community.  Telegram after telegram in our archives serve as tokens of recognition that Biltmore was home for Edith Vanderbilt.. .and that this timeless, magical place was never far from her heart at Christmas-time.  Just as Edith wrote to those she held dear, we send you Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year!

Pellegrini Bedding Collection

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Artistic inspiration

Make a dramatic statement in rich cotton damask with our Pellegrini Bedding, drawn from the warm red tones in the Biltmore House Library and Giovanni Pellegrini’s The Chariot of Aurora ceiling painting soaring overhead. 

The Chariot of Aurora ceiling painting in the Biltmore House Library“The Chariot of Aurora” ceiling painting in the Biltmore House Library

Historical note: Pellegrini’s The Chariot of Aurora originally graced the ceiling of the Pisani Palace in Venice, and is one of very few of his works still in existence today.

Find the entire Pellegrini Bedding Collection at Belk here.

Expect the Unexpected from Sweeter White Wines

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If you think sweeter white wines only go with desserts, I challenge you to think again.

We handcraft Biltmore wines to appeal to many tastes, from beginner to enthusiast. Our sweeter whites, including Biltmore Estate® Chenin Blanc, Biltmore Estate® Riesling, Biltmore® Century Sweet White Wine, and Pas de Deux® Sec, are surprisingly food-friendly and provide great options for pairing with a wide range of cuisine.

What makes a wine sweeter?

Grapes ripening in Biltmore's vineyard
Grapes ripening in Biltmore’s vineyard

So…wine is made from grapes and grapes are sweet, right? What else is there to know?

Plenty! If you think that wine is nothing more than grape juice that sits in a barrel for a while, let me help you understand the process:

Grapes produce natural sugar, and depending on the varietal—and the growing season—the level can vary quite a bit. The yeast produced during fermentation converts the sugar in the grapes into alcohol. If we let this process continue until its natural end, it results in a dryer wine with a lower sugar level, like a Chardonnay.

To create sweeter wines, we must either add sugar to the dryer wine or interrupt the fermentation process before all the sugar is converted.  There are several ways to do this:

  • Get the yeast out of the wine so that more residual sugar remains
  • Kill the yeast within the fermenting wine
  • Start with a high-sugar grape so that the yeast can’t convert all the sweetness before it dies. (Yeast is a living organism.)

Unexpected pairing suggestions

Shrimp appetizer with dipping sauce
Pair spicy Cajun or Asian shrimp dishes with some of our sweeter white wines.

Because sweeter white wines often have a good amount of acidity to complement their higher sugar levels, they can stand up to spicier foods than you might expect. Our semi-sweet Biltmore Estate® Riesling is a great complement for the hot peppers and cilantro that characterize many Thai dishes, while Chinese and Vietnamese food–especially sweet and sour dishes–are excellent with our nicely balanced Biltmore® Century Sweet White Wine.

Don’t overlook unexpected dessert pairings, either. Banana pudding is perfect with our Biltmore Estate® Chenin Blanc—this medium-sweet, fresh and crisp wine enlivens the heavier vanilla and fruit flavors of this traditional Southern favorite.

Let something sweet bubble up!

In the mood to enjoy the slightly sweeter side of bubbly, as well? We suggest our Pas de Deux® Sec with foods ranging from fresh fruit to Cajun spiced shrimp. Try it for your next light brunch and you’ll have your guests raising a toast to your good taste!

Tips

Peanut butter Yule log.
Peanut Butter Yule Log or “Buche de Noel” is a decadent dessert for the season–especially when paired with Biltmore Estate Riesling!
  • Sweeter white wines can be surprisingly food-friendly and bring out the flavors in many spicy dishes.
  • Be sure to chill sweeter white wines appropriately so that you can enjoy them at their best. Too cold and you lose a lot of taste; too warm and the wine seems overly sweet and strong. Serve between 39 and 50 degrees, depending on the varietal.
  • If serving sweeter wines with dessert, the wine should be a bit sweeter than the dessert itself.

New Year’s Eve: Turn up the Sparkle!

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Your holiday table may not be as large as the one in the Banquet Hall of Biltmore House in Asheville, NC, but don’t let that stop you from creating a memorable and sparkly setting for your New Year’s Eve celebrations at home.

Banquet Hall table set for
Banquet Hall table set for “A Vanderbilt House Party” exhibition in 2019.

Our Biltmore Floral designers are experts in creating shine and polish for all types of events, but especially for New Year’s Eve celebrations around the table.

Here are six ideas for creating Biltmore-inspired decor for your New Year’s Eve celebrations:

  1. Take a look around your home to see what kinds of everyday objects you can transform into extraordinary elements. You’d be surprised by what you can do with what you already have, such as sparkling ornaments from your Christmas tree, candles, glass vases, and the like. Of course, if you come up short, a trip to the local crafts store may be necessary.
  2. Start with table linens to build a base for your centerpiece. Layer your linens, starting with a tablecloth; then add an overlay, and finish with a runner. Build texture by mixing solid colors, metallics, and elegant prints.
  3. If you don’t have them on hand, you can purchase oversized martini or Champagne glasses, or vases for the centerpiece. If room permits, use three different heights and add some tulips to each glass, letting them spill over the edge. Acrylic gems added to the water in the vases will create a sparkling effect.
  4. Another centerpiece idea is to use one or several clear glass vases that are varying in height and fill each vase with water pearls and LED submersible lights (available at any craft store). Metallic twigs in each vase will add extra sparkle to the table.
  5. Don’t forget candlelight! If you have room, use a variety of sizes: pillars, candlesticks, and votives. The more, the better! At the base of your vases and candles, add oversized gems or crystals to reflect the light. For a more whimsical look, add a variety of clocks so you can watch the countdown to the New Year.
  6. Most importantly, remember to have fun and don’t hold back on your creativity.
Detail look at decorative elements
Sparkling ornaments from your Christmas tree can be repurposed for creating a sparkling tablescape.

We hope these ideas from Biltmore’s floral experts help make your New Year’s decor and tablescapes sparkle!