What is the largest and most visited winery in the United States?
It’s the Biltmore Estate Winery in Asheville, N.C.
Surprised? I was. Then I visited the Biltmore Estate, toured its impressive 450-room “house”, ate lunch in the Stable Café, and tasted the locally made wines.
The 8,000-acre estate is an architectural and environmental shrine to 19th-century American ingenuity. (Biltmore bottle labels carry the motto “An American legacy and tradition.”) Built in 1895 by George W. Vanderbilt, the French chateau boasted all the modern amenities of the time including 350 guest rooms, 43 bathrooms, a swimming pool and gymnasium, and lavish dining rooms. Guests lounged on balconies with sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, or hiked and biked winding forest trails.
Today, the estate remains a family-run business open to the public for all-year lodging, leisure, recreation, shopping and entertainment activities (to learn more go to www.biltmore.com).
The Antler Hill Village winery is situated nearby and attracts more than 1.1 million visitors annually. A complimentary tasting is included in the $55 ticket price to the Biltmore House and its majestic grounds (free shuttle service is available).
On the February day I visited, the temperature soared to a winter-defying 70 degrees, and I exulted over being offered a private tasting with Hospitality Wine Hostess Laura Ross.
Ross explained that while Vanderbilt filled his cellar with French wines, it wasn’t until the 1970s when his grandson, William Cecil, planted the estate’s original 30 acres of vineyards to Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
In 2018, under the direction of winemaker Sharon Fenchak, the Biltmore Winery Company sold more than 150,000 cases. Partnerships with several California vineyards have helped expand Biltmore’s portfolio to more than two dozen wines.
Most North Carolina bottlings are moderately priced in the $13 to $20 range and the winery ships direct to consumers in 35 states, including Massachusetts.
Here are tasting notes on wines I sampled:
Limited Release Sauvignon Blanc, $19 – Aged in oak. Creamy more than crispy, and clean. Pronounced apple and lime traits. Easy drinking. Dry finish.
Reserve Chardonnay North Carolina, $24 – The beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains shines through on this appealing white made from estate-grown grapes. It’s buttery with ripe apple, pear, and melon fruit flavors. Closes softly with a touch of vanilla.
Limited Release Muscat Canelli, $17 – This semi-sweet wine, derived from Italy’s Moscato di Canelli grape, caught me by surprise for its luscious tropical fruit and brightness. A good match for Asian and Mexican foods and desserts.
Chenin Blanc, $13 – Crafted in a semi-sweet style, this did not capture my dry, Loire Valley fancy. Still, it was floral and easy drinking.
Sangiovese, $17 – Made at the winery from California grapes, this is a decent representation of Italy’s No.1 varietal. Upfront cherry and raspberry fruit with a mellow, dry finish. A good pizza and pasta wine.
Reserve Cabernet Franc North Carolina, $35 – Crafted from estate grapes, this Bordeaux varietal expresses red-berry power and complex punch to go along with its velvety frame. George Vanderbilt would be proud to call this his own. Worth the price.
Limited Release Malbec, $24 – It’s easy to see why this was the Biltmore’s top-selling wine in 2018. Juicy and flavorful, it hit all the right notes of plum, blueberry and peppery spices. Grapes are sourced from California.
Merlot, $15 – California, North Carolina and Washington State grapes partner to deliver a vibrant , dark-berry and wild herb-flavored wine. Cabernet Sauvignon (15 percent) firms up the medium-bodied structure. Soft tannins and a nice, dry finish.
Cabernet Sauvignon, $19 – Lighter than a full-bodied Cab, it nonetheless has a satisfying edge that makes it a good match for an every-day table wine with pork and beef barbecue and grilled burgers.
Great article! I am planning to visit the estate sometime in the near future so it gave me a better idea of what to expect. I am not a heavy drinker by any means but as a gourmet, I do love to pair a lovely meal with the perfect wine. It is the frosting on the cake (so to speak!) Cabernet Sauvignon and a fine Bordeaux are my favorites!