Hey, GVL. Kayla here. I recently took a trip to Biltmore Winery for the first time to learn about how they make their wines + tour the operation (and sip some samples). It was a pretty fantastic day. Here’s what went down, and why you should #TryThis.
Experience:
Biltmore Wines
What we tried (with pricing):
We explored Biltmore Winery (complimentary tasting included with ticket to Biltmore Estate) and took a behind-the-scenes tour ($10/person) in Antler Hill Village on the iconic property in Asheville, N.C. We learned about the history + winemaking process; experienced a Red Wine & Chocolate Tasting ($35/person) + wine-ded down in the Wine Bar (costs vary).
Four varieties of grapes are grown on the estate’s vineyard: Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. Biltmore crafts 40+ wines, and also partners with vineyards in California and Washington State to source grapes.
Biltmore’s wines are aged in French + American oak barrels for varying lengths of time, bottled (with an average yield of 10K bottles/day), sold in 19 states (find a retailer nearby here) + direct-shipped to over 40 states (shop online here). With five tiers of wine, prices range from $13-75. Read: There’s a bottle for every wine drinker’s palate + budget.
On our tour, we met head winemaker Sharon Fenchak + learned that the N.C. grapes are harvested from Labor Day through just before Thanksgiving (or the first frost of the season).
We also got to witness the crushing process of a fresh batch of tempranillo grapes that had just arrived from Washington, which included a giant de-stemming machine and Willy-Wonka-esque tube for the juice (no feet were involved). Watch on our Instagram story.
Don’t miss:
After you walk around the property (or do the add-on BTS tour), you can taste wines for no additional charge in the tasting room or enjoy a full glass of your favorite in the Wine Bar. Bonus: They have cheese, charcuterie + chocolate truffles on the menu. 🧀
What we’re still talking about:
We attended another add-on experience, the Red Wine & Chocolate Tasting, and we learned a lot. DYK the tannins in wine bind with proteins + fats in food? That’s why even a cheap bottle of red wine tastes fantastic with foods like pizza, chocolate + steak. 🍕🍷
How you can experience this:
Access to Biltmore Winery (with complimentary tasting) is included with admission to Biltmore Estate (tickets here), with add-on tours + events available. A one-hour drive from GVL, it’s easy to make it a day trip – just make sure you have a designated driver.
You can also pick up a bottle of Biltmore Wines in grocery stores + wine shops near you – find a nearby retailer that carries Biltmore Wines here. Pro tip: Bottles make perfect holiday gifts – check out their Wine Holiday Guide. 🎁
If you’re already sold and want to go all in, you can even join Biltmore’s Wine Club. Info here.
Things to know if you go:
- Experience: Biltmore Wines
- Price: Bottles start at ~$13. Winery access/tasting is included in admission to Biltmore ($69+). Prices vary for add-on tours/events.
- Website: http://www.biltmorewines.com/
- Address: Find local retailers here. Winery address: 1 Lodge St, Asheville, N.C. 28803
- Hours: Winery open daily, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Social:
- Facebook: Biltmore
- Instagram: @BiltmoreWines
Cheers, GVL.🍷 Ⓟ
