Biltmore is Open and Welcoming Guests: Know Before You Go
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An appellation applies to grapes grown and bottled in a specific state or region. Wineries use the American appellation for a variety of reasons.
Our American Series wines feature the American appellation since we source fruit from multiple grape-growing regions around the nation and produce the wines at Biltmore’s Winery in Asheville, North Carolina.
We begin with high quality fruit from premiere growing regions across the country including North Carolina, California, and Washington. Most grape varietals thrive in chalky, mineral-laden soils and a dry, Mediterranean-style climate of hot days, cool nights, and low average rainfall—similar to California.
Some hearty varietals such as Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot grow well in our estate vineyards, while other popular grapes like Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio can’t tolerate the weather conditions in Western North Carolina.
Partnering with trusted growers in other regions ensures that we are able to provide a wide range of options for our guests and meet the ever-increasing demand for our wines.
Biltmore was founded on George Vanderbilt’s vision of a self-sufficient estate and wine has long been a family tradition. Today, the legacy of our past inspires our future as we handcraft quality wines from America’s finest grapes at our estate winery.
Located at approximately 2,500 feet elevation in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Asheville, North Carolina, Biltmore’s vineyard experiences a wide range of temperature variations during the growing season.
Warm, humid days and cooler evenings, plus a much higher average rainfall than the west coast and a greater risk of late-season frost, make it difficult to grow all but the hardiest varietals of wine grapes.
Just south of Asheville, Polk County has a long history as a successful grape-growing region. Our local partners there benefit from a slightly lower elevation and a “thermal belt” climate phenomenon that lessens the risks associated with frost and freezing temperatures.
Biltmore has long-standing partnerships with several vineyards in California from which our winemaker sources a wide range of grape varietals.
California’s north coast offers a cooler climate that is affected by misty fog and breezes from the Pacific Ocean, while the central coast (San Francisco Bay to Santa Barbara County) enjoys a warmer climate with a cooling influence from the Pacific.
Collectively known as California’s “gold coast,” these regions are characterized by hot, dry days and cool evenings that yield quality grapes perfect for the extensive array of Biltmore wines that we handcraft each year.
Biltmore’s Washington vineyard partners are located on the eastern side of the state where a dryer shrub-steppe ecosystem and the effects of the rain shadow from the Cascade Mountains create excellent conditions for growing wine grapes.
In addition, the state experiences long hours of daylight—approximately two more hours per day during the growing season than California—and milder, more consistent temperatures. These factors make Washington an excellent region for sourcing quality fruit for our award-winning Biltmore wines.
Each of our American Series wines is handcrafted to represent true varietal character and outstanding taste. Whether our grapes come from North Carolina, California, or Washington, we select from the finest fruit grown in America.