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Wednesday, October 7, 2009 Biltmore Celebrates Annual Christmas Event, Nov. 6 - Jan. 212:20 PM
ASHEVILLE, NC - One hundred fourteen years ago this Christmas Eve, George Washington Vanderbilt first opened Biltmore House to family and friends. Vanderbilt's legacy for legendary hospitality lives on today and especially during the holiday season when Biltmore House is elaborately decorated for Christmas, offering guests a glimpse of what it may have been like to be one of his guests during that special holiday season in 1895.
Known for being one of the largest holiday displays in the Southeast, Biltmore House and the surrounding 8,000 acres of the estate will celebrate its annual Christmas at Biltmore, Nov. 6, 2009, through Jan. 2, 2010. For ticket and booking information, call 877-BILTMORE or visit www.biltmore.com. As in years past, the event will feature 100 decorated Christmas trees; hundreds of wreaths and bows; hundreds of poinsettias; 30,000 lights in the house with another 150,000 lights used around the estate; 10,000 feet of fresh garland; and more than 25,000 ornaments. Biltmore House's holiday centerpiece, a 34-foot Fraser fir, spends the holidays in the 72-foot high Banquet Hall, adorned with lights and surrounded by hundreds of brightly packaged gift boxes. The Biltmore House front lawn will glow with a lighted 55-foot Norway spruce, surrounded by eight "islands" of smaller lighted trees and nursery shrubs. Christmas at Biltmore Christmas at Biltmore during the daytime includes tours of Biltmore House, the Gardens, the Winery with complimentary wine tasting, River Bend Farm and Barnyard. Inside Biltmore House, the Banquet Hall organ will serenade guests with music of the season. Candlelight Christmas Evenings Candlelight Christmas Evenings, where luminaries and a brilliant display of twinkling lights on the Front Lawn set the tone for tours of Biltmore House, requires separate entry. New this year will be ballroom dancers in vintage costume gliding across the floor in the Winter Garden. A story teller will regale visitors with readings from traditional holiday tales such as "The Little Match Girl," "The Gift of the Magi" and Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." Choirs will perform European carols, with musicians providing seasonal music. Get Inspired by Biltmore Decor The restoration and preservation of the magnificent Louis XV Suite in Biltmore House has inspired this year's holiday decor theme. Guests who come to Biltmore before diving into their own holiday decorating can't help but pick up tips and ideas. In fact, Biltmore staff will give free holiday seminars on how to create Vanderbilt-inspired decorations for their own homes. Reservations for the seminars are not required; however, space may be limited so guests should arrive early. Here is the seminar schedule: - Deck the Halls, daily, Nov. 6-22: Biltmore's Floral Displays staff will give decorating tips for the home. 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the Biltmore House Library Den. - Centerpieces for Holiday Entertaining, daily, Nov. 6-Jan. 2: 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at A Gardener's Place in the Conservatory. - Decorating a Christmas Wreath, daily, Nov. 6-Jan. 2: Learn how to turn an ordinary silk Christmas wreath into an elegant and interesting design. 1 and 3 p.m. at A Gardener's Place in the Conservatory. - Red Wine and Chocolate, daily, Nov. 6-Jan. 2: Discover why chocolate and red wine is a match made in heaven by pairing Biltmore Estate wine with several varieties of chocolate. 2, 3, 4 and 6 p.m. at the Winery. Give the Gift of a Memory Christmas at Biltmore is the perfect gift that families can give themselves. With the estate transformed into a magical wonderland, families will create memories to last a lifetime. "Family" is an unofficial theme at Biltmore this year since one of four rooms that opened to the public in Biltmore House for the first time was where two generations of the Vanderbilt family were actually born. Across Biltmore Holiday hospitality extends across the entire estate. Biltmore Winery offers self-guided tours and complimentary wine tastings. Santa Claus will visit River Bend Barn on Saturdays, Nov. 7-Dec. 20. Guests may enjoy a festive meal at Bistro, Deerpark Restaurant, Stable Cafe or The Dining Room at Inn on Biltmore Estate. Guests looking to extend their stay at Biltmore, the four-star Inn offers several packages for holidays, including special New Year's Eve packages. Biltmore boasts retail shops, all perfect for holiday gift shopping. Other activities include taking a cozy horse and carriage ride (blankets provided) and exploring acres of landscaped gardens. Labels: asheville, Biltmore Estate, events Wednesday, September 23, 2009 The Hilton Asheville Opens Roux1:27 PM
ASHEVILLE, NC - Asheville now has a unique addition to its dining scene, Roux, the Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park’s new restaurant, featuring an innovative menu that incorporates small plates and comfort food with a creative twist. The Hilton Asheville along with Roux opened this August.
The restaurant’s entrees and small dishes create fusions of southern comfort and sophistication: its macaroni and cheese is truffled, its barbeque sliders are salmon and its bistro meatloaf sauce is a red-onion marmalade. Roux’s wide range of dishes range from grilled portobello and radicchio to lemon roasted chicken and sweet and spicy wings. The basis for the restaurant name, roux, is the cooking mixture classically used to thicken the principal sauces of French cuisine. Roux, the restaurant, also blends the best of both gourmet and southern comfort food worlds.The restaurant uses the concept of the old blue plate special to create 'small' and 'larg'’ plates but with a spin- rustic potato frites in white truffle-scallion aioli and similar innovations replacing the usual ketchup and French fries- just the kind of twist Roux will become known for. Roux’s Executive Chef Randy Dunn of Sparta, Tenn., has 15 years of culinary achievement behind him. He attended culinary school in Charleston, S.C., has worked at the Marriott in Birmingham, Ala., and had the opportunity to cook for Julia Child while at Sydney’s Grill in Cambridge, Mass. "I believe Roux will really offer something very different from your typical hotel restaurant. Here you’ll find a fun dining experience, something very social yet with great food and attentive service," said Dunn. The restaurant will use as much local, Asheville-based food as possible following in the footsteps of the Hilton Asheville’s commitment to sustainability. "My goal is to support local farmers and merchants and become a responsible neighbor in the town I am very excited to now be calling home," said Dunn.The Hilton Asheville is a luxurious, new, LEED Registered hotel located in the heart of Biltmore Park Town Square, just minutes from Biltmore Estate and just steps from dining, shopping and entertainment. Hilton Asheville is located just off Interstate 26, Exit 37 on Long Shoals Road in Biltmore Park Town Square. This location is just 5 minutes from the Asheville Regional Airport and 15 minutes from Biltmore Estate and downtown Asheville. To learn more about the Hilton Asheville and Roux, visit the website at www.biltmorefarmshotels.com. Labels: asheville, Biltmore Estate, hotels, places to stay, restaurants, retail Wednesday, September 2, 2009 Biltmore Estate: a One-Stop Destination for Fall Color Immersion6:00 AM
ASHEVILLE, NC - For travelers short on time, but big on taking in all that fall has to offer, Biltmore is a one-stop shop for everything autumn.
With one of the most extensive fall garden displays in the Southeast (where “Mum” is the word), world-class activities, a winery, culinary temptations, the Inn on Biltmore Estate and the stunning 250-room Biltmore House, Biltmore offers an expansive – yet efficient – way to experience a full fall immersion. Cloaked in rich hues of harvest gold and burgundy, deep plums and amber, Biltmore’s 8,000 acres await exploration. Enjoy gardens bursting with thousands of colorful mums, pastoral and mountain views, vibrant colored forests and rolling countryside. At Biltmore’s Outdoor Center, activities include carriage rides, horseback riding, guided Segway tours, fly fishing and sessions at the Land Rover Experience Driving School. River Bend Farm welcomes curiosities with demonstrations of what it was like to live and work on the estate in the 1890s, including a barnyard full of farm animals to visit. Panoramic views star on guided rooftop tours of Biltmore House. Particularly dramatic during the fall, with crisp air and clear vistas all the way to Mount Pisgah, this birds-eye view of the estate is one of Biltmore’s most popular tours. Biltmore House offers an array of indoor beauty, complete with the Vanderbilt family’s original collection of furnishings, art and antiques. Four, never-before-seen rooms opened earlier this year after an extensive restoration. Known as the Louis XV Suite, these rooms are the most grand bedrooms in the house, and served as birthplace of two generations of Vanderbilts. Savor festive menus at one of the estate’s five restaurants, which celebrate a legacy of sustainable agriculture, serving fresh produce grown in the gardens right on the estate. Barbecue and Bluegrass Saturdays take place at the Winery through October, and Deerpark will feature an Appalachian Harvest Buffet. Biltmore’s award-winning winery offers tastings, tours, culinary demonstrations and seminars. And, for those looking to capture the romance of fall overnight, the Inn on Biltmore Estate offers year-round packages. There’s something for every leaf peeper at Biltmore. Visit www.biltmore.com for more information. Labels: art, asheville, Biltmore Estate, events, restaurants Friday, August 28, 2009 Blue Ridge Parkway 75 Announces Artist Program11:03 AM ASHEVILLE, NC - The states of Virginia and North Carolina share many beautiful things – mountains and forests, farmland and coast, rich heritage and friendly towns. They also share the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway and an appreciation for the many talented artists who live along its route.Two of the most gifted artists from Virginia and North Carolina – P. Buckley Moss and Teresa Pennington, respectively – have created special works of art to commemorate the Parkway’s 75th Anniversary. Moss will unveil a new work commemorating the Blue Ridge Parkway’s 75th Anniversary at events September 11 and 12 at The Framer’s Daughter, 121 N. Main Street in Galax, VA. The artist will be at the gallery from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. September 11 and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. September 12. Representatives from the Blue Ridge Parkway’s 75th committee will join her at the September 11 appearance. For further information, contact Kay Weddle at 276.236.4920 or by e-mail. The painting will be released as both a limited edition offset lithograph as well as a poster. Its unveiling coincides with the Parkway’s celebration of its 75th year September 11, 2010. The print and poster will be available after the unveiling on the P. Buckley Moss Web site www.pbuckleymoss.com and at authorized Moss dealers. In addition to Moss’s commercial success as an artist, she has worked to raise over $4 million for charitable organizations and has established the P. Buckley Moss Foundation for Children’s Education, promoting the use of art in school curriculums as a learning instrument for students with learning differences. Teresa Pennington has created four drawings in her series of limited edition giclees and lithographs. Pennington’s work will be unveiled the evening of October 9 at T. Pennington Gallery in Waynesville, NC. Pennington has also created four series of drawings for Biltmore Estate over the past 17 years. Her work has also been commissioned by the U.S. Forest Service and the Western North Carolina Diocese of the Episcopal Church Proceeds from the sale of the commemorative prints by both artists will benefit the Parkway’s 75th anniversary. Labels: art, asheville, Biltmore Estate, events, parkway Tuesday, August 25, 2009 Just Ducky’s Asheville Store is Moving to Biltmore Village12:30 PM
ASHEVILLE, NC - Just Ducky Originals, LTD, an Asheville-based children’s clothing manufacturer with stores in Asheville and Waynesville announced today that it will be relocating its Asheville store from 100 Charlotte Street to 10 All Souls Crescent in Biltmore Village. The new location has a planned opening date of Friday, September 4th – Labor Day weekend.
"We are excited to become a part of Historic Biltmore Village and its quaint shopping atmosphere," said Sallie Broach, owner of Just Ducky Originals. "The location at the entrance to the Biltmore Estate with its large tourist draw for Asheville is what helped convince us to move." Sallie started Just Ducky nearly 30 years ago in the attic of her Asheville home. The company has grown to a multi-million dollar venture with over 300 women selling the children’s line in home shows across the country. Two Just Ducky retail locations specialize in classic fashions for boys and girls, where you’ll find the Just Ducky line at 30%-50% off, as well as other beautiful children’s lines, unique baby gifts, and a large selection of accessories. Labels: asheville, Biltmore Estate, children, retail Thursday, August 6, 2009 Country Inn & Suites By Carlson Opens in Asheville10:19 AM
ASHEVILLE, NC - The new 80-room Country Inn & Suites By Carlson(R) Asheville West today announced it is open for business at 1914 Old Haywood Road in Asheville near Biltmore Estate.
"We're very excited to bring another Country Inns & Suites By Carlson hotel to this region," said Steve Mogck, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Country Inns & Suites By Carlson. "All employees will participate in our 'Be Our Guest' service training program, to ensure consistent delivery of quality customer service at our hotels." "This custom-built hotel featuring Biltmore-inspired French decor is a wonderful addition to our community. We are confident that this recognized brand and lodging concept will help us grow and prosper in the future," said Vinod Patel, general manager of the Country Inn & Suites By Carlson Asheville West. Visitors to the hotel are welcomed with beautiful landscaping including waterfalls and a gazebo. The 100 percent non-smoking property features an outdoor heated pool, whirlpool and fitness center with treadmill, elliptical machine and freedom trainer. Other amenities include a complimentary hot breakfast and flexible meeting space that can accommodate up to 10 people. The hotel offers a variety of guest room styles including standard rooms, studio suites, one bedroom suites and Jacuzzi rooms. All rooms feature complimentary wired and wireless high-speed Internet access, hair dryer, 32-inch LCD television, microwave and refrigerator. Conveniently located off I-40 at Exit 44 near Biltmore Estate, the hotel is less than 15 miles from Asheville Regional Airport and within 120 miles of Charlotte Douglas International. The hotel is also close to three golf courses, tennis courts and a variety of attractions including Blue Ridge Parkway, Biltmore Square Mall and Regal Biltmore Grande Theatre. Country Inns & Suites By Carlson offer amenities such as complimentary hot breakfast, in-room coffee maker, in-room iron and ironing board, and weekday morning newspaper. Country Inns & Suites By Carlson embraces the love of reading through its Read It & Return Lending Library. A variety of titles for all ages are available for guests to borrow and read at their leisure at more than 465 locations in the U.S. and Canada and the brand supports literacy efforts through charitable donations. For reservations and information, visit www.countryinns.com or call toll-free 1-800-456-4000. Labels: asheville, Biltmore Estate, hotels, parkway Thursday, July 30, 2009 Biltmore Unveils Second Annual Flower Carpet9:40 AM
ASHEVILLE, NC - Biltmore will celebrate its renowned landscape history with its second annual Flower Carpet August 14 through 30. On the South Terrace of Biltmore House, more than 100,000 live plants will be installed to create a design inspired from architectural elements found in America's largest home. The 14,400 square foot carpet display represents months of planning and engineering, and offers guests a unique late summer garden experience. This year's design was created by a Biltmore employee and was interpreted from stone carvings and intricate details from around Biltmore House. Most notably, the design reflects a fleur-de-lis motif found on a stone pillar outside the house. These pillars were one of the architectural designs inspired by the Chateau de Blois in the Loire Valley of France. The plants used for the carpet will be Scaevola Top Pot Blue, Salvia farinacea Evolution, Begonia Prelude Rose, Marigold Janie Bright Yellow, Zinnia Profusion Fire, Iresine Purple Lady and Dusty Miller New Look. "Flower carpets are popular in India. They're part of a yearly spring celebration on the island of Madeira and they have been perfected in Belgium. We are very excited to be bringing this natural art to our region for the second year in a row," said Parker Andes, director of horticulture for Biltmore. A daytime visit to Biltmore's Flower Carpet is included with the cost of regular admission. Seating will be available on the South Terrace and Library Terrace of Biltmore House, where the view is spectacular. The gardens are open to day guests until dusk. On select evenings, the estate will open for Flower Carpet Evenings - August 14, 16, 21, 22, 28 and 29. On these special nights, the carpet will be surrounded by the glow of soft lighting, beautiful sunset views and live jazz. Evening tickets are $65, or guests may upgrade from their daytime ticket for an additional charge. These tickets also include a self-guided candlelight tour of Biltmore House from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Guests with evening tickets may enter the estate after 4:30 p.m. Picnic options are available by reservation online or by phone when purchasing tickets. A wine bar featuring wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverages for purchase will be available on site as well as a dining concierge that will be able to assist with dinner reservations at an estate restaurant. Restaurants will also be taking dinner reservations in advance. For additional information on the Flower Carpet event, please call 877-BILTMORE. Labels: asheville, Biltmore Estate, events, restaurants Thursday, July 23, 2009 Sustainable North Carolina 2009 Nominations Now Open3:32 PM
Raleigh, NC - Calling sustainable businesses of all sizes, social entrepreneurs, and champions of environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic prosperity.
Nominations for the 2009 Sustainable North Carolina Awards are now being accepted online at www.sustainnc.org/2009awards. In the spirit of the 2009 theme of “Inspiring Innovation,” the nomination process will take a decidedly social media route to make it faster, easier, and more transparent. Nominee profiles will appear on an interactive website where the public can comment and ask questions. Now in its eighth year, the Sustainable NC Awards is one of the most widely recognized programs in North Carolina honoring organizations and people who integrate social responsibility and environmental stewardship with sound financial performance. In 2008, winners included The Biltmore Company in Asheville, Green Planet Catering in Raleigh, and the Proximity Hotel in Greensboro and the US Fleet Readiness Center East in Cherry Point. A judging panel comprising past award winners and sustainability specialists will select finalists and winners in each of five categories: Triple Bottom Line, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Catalyst, and Champion. Award finalists will be invited to present at breakout sessions on the day of the Awards ceremony. Event attendees will be able to cast a vote on-site for the winner of the brand new “Spark” award for the most inspirational finalist. All awardees will be honored at a ceremony and reception on November 11, 2009 in Raleigh at a venue to be announced. A limited number of sponsorship opportunities for the awards program and event are available. Please direct questions about the nomination process or sponsorships to Katy Ansardi at kansardi@sustainnc.org and (919) 839-2111 x9304. Labels: asheville, Biltmore Estate, events, raleigh, sustainable
Biltmore's Summer Concert Series Starts July 232:23 PM
ASHEVILLE, NC - Experience the exhilaration of a live concert at Biltmore. Enjoy star performances on the South Terrace, while savoring breathtaking sunset views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Tickets on sale now.
Savings Tip: Spend a day at Biltmore and enjoy a live concert on the estate for one low price. Summer Evening Concerts Lineup * MercyMe - July 23rd * ABBA The Music—A Tribute - July 24th * BRUCE HORNSBY & THE NOISEMAKERS - July 25th * Tom Jones - July 39th * RICK SPRINGFIELD with special guests LOVERBOY - July 31st * The Oak Ridge Boys and Doc Watson & David Holt - August 1st Concert tickets permit estate entry at 5:30 p.m. Tickets being held must be picked up at the Welcome Center by 7:30 p.m. For more information visit, www.biltmore.comLabels: asheville, Biltmore Estate, events, music Thursday, June 25, 2009 Kids Visit Biltmore for Free All Summer3:18 PM
ASHEVILLE, NC - Biltmore Estate guests, ages 16 and younger, are admitted free with a paying adult all summer through September 7, 2009 making this a great time to plan a Biltmore family day-trip or summer vacation. America's largest house and one of the most visited attractions in the United States, Biltmore House has approximately four acres of floor space filled with priceless treasures and antique furnishings from around the world. In addition to the magnificent house, there are 8,000 or so acres of estate gardens and grounds where you can spend enjoying an array of activities for all ages. Labels: asheville, attractions, Biltmore Estate Wednesday, June 24, 2009 Asheville Makes Top 10 List for Being Dog Friendly4:47 PM
ASHEVILLE, NC - DogFriendly.com released its Top 10 dog-friendly resort regions in the United States for 2009. Asheville came in at 9th place and was noted for the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Biltmore Estate.
The rankings are determined by the DogFriendly.com staff and take into account the quality of dog-friendly accommodations, things to do with your dog, beaches, parks and dog-friendly patio dining. Below is the complete list; 1. Carmel / Monterey, CA - Many pet-friendly accommodations. Off-leash Carmel City Beach. Many walking and hiking options. Shop and dine in luxury. 2. Bar Harbor / Acadia, ME - Pet-friendly Acadia National Park. Shop in the historic downtown. Take a ferry or boat cruise. 3. Black Hills, SD - Lots of dog-friendly attractions and campgrounds. Mt Rushmore worth visiting with a dog. See Badlands National Park. 4. St Augustine, FL - See the historic downtown. Lots of dog-friendly shopping and dining. Take a harbor boat cruise and a ghost tour. 5. Cape Cod, MA - Visit Cape Cod National Seashore. Many cruises and ferries. Also take in Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. 6. Key West, FL - Quaint B&B's and outdoor dining. Dog-friendly attractions, boating and stores. See the Southernmost Point Monument. 7. Charlottesville, VA - Visit estates of Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry. Shop at the downtown mall. Visit dog-friendly Shenandoah Park nearby. 8. Mendocino, CA - Stay in a pet-friendly B&B or resort. Walk the seaside town. Go to the beach and dine outdoors. 9. Asheville / Blue Ridge, NC - Tour the Blue Ridge Parkway. Visit the Biltmore Estate grounds and shop at Biltmore Village. 10. Amarillo, TX - Visit the famous Cadillac Ranch. Spend a day or camp at Palo Duro Canyon. Stay at the Big Texan Steak Ranch Motel. Labels: asheville, Biltmore Estate, parks and recreation, parkway, pets Thursday, May 14, 2009 Charles Osgood Films CBS Sunday Morning at Asheville's Biltmore Estate7:23 PM
ASHEVILLE, NC - Charles Osgood is everything you think he is. The longtime host of CBS Sunday Morning and anchor of the Osgood File news program on the radio is every bit himself off camera as he portrays on camera or on mic. Sunday Morning spent two days filming for this Sunday's show at Biltmore in Asheville, NC. During his down time, Osgood talked candidly with fans (spending about 15 minutes with some of them) and graciously posed for pictures. He spoke to people as if they had been long time friends. Sunday's episode will be based at Biltmore and focused on design. It will include some of Biltmore's greatest assets as well as other pieces on fashion and design. The show will air Sunday morning at 9, right after News Channel 7 Sunday Morning. Watch Rich Klindworth’s entire interview with Charles Osgood: link to WSPA Labels: asheville, Biltmore Estate Saturday, April 11, 2009 Biltmore Estate Hosts Annual Easter Festivities9:59 AM
ASHEVILLE, NC - From colorful Easter egg hunts with the Easter Rabbit, to storytelling and magic shows, your family will find fun at every turn this Easter.
On the Front Lawn * Easter egg hunts: 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. (Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. and ends 15 minutes prior to each hunt.) Festivities are open to ages 2–9, and participants need to bring baskets for egg gathering. * Visits and photos with the Easter Rabbit,: 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. * Children's music and storytelling: 9:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m., and 1:45 p.m. * Magic shows: 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. * Seed planting, coloring, and word finds: 9:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Inside Biltmore House * Choirs perform in the Winter Garden: 11:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m, and 3:00 p.m. At River Bend Barn and Farmyard * Children's games and crafts, butter churning demos, and baby animals: 12:00 noon–5:00 p.m. Labels: asheville, Biltmore Estate, easter Wednesday, April 8, 2009 Biltmore's Vineyard Director Awarded "Winegrower of Excellence for 2008"12:40 PM
ASHEVILLE, NC - Dennis Wynne, vineyard director for Biltmore, was awarded "Winegrower of Excellence for 2008" at the North Carolina Winegrower’s Association’s annual meeting on Thurs., February 5. To qualify for this award, recipients must have at least 5 grape bearing acres which have consistently produced high quality fruit for a minimum of 5 years and their vineyards must be available for research which will benefit the industry. Potential recipients are nominated by NCWA members, and wine and vineyard educators within North Carolina.
Incorporated in the state of North Carolina as a non-profit, the goal of the North Carolina Winegrower's Association is to help members grow better grapes, make better wine and market the final product more effectively. Current membership of the NCWA is more than 350. “We are very excited that Dennis was honored with this award. He has been an integral part of our wine program for 28 years and this recognition is well deserved,” said Jerry Douglas, senior vice president of sales and marketing for The Biltmore Company. Biltmore’s 94-acre vineyard is located in a valley near the French Broad River on the west side of the property. Varieties grown include Chardonnay, Riesling, Viognier, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. All grapes are picked by hand, with each harvest averaging 250 tons of grapes annually. The first vineyards at Biltmore were established in 1971 in an area below Biltmore House. French-American hybrids were planted initially, with vinifera plantings following in a few years. Inspired after several years of experimenting, William A.V. Cecil, then president and owner of Biltmore, decided that a winery was the natural outcome of ongoing research and a logical extension of his grandfather's intention that the estate be self-supporting. Biltmore wines are available in Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia To learn more about Biltmore Wines or to access the regional wine-buying guide, please visit www.biltmorewine.com. Labels: asheville, Biltmore Estate Monday, March 30, 2009 Biltmore Announces 2009 Summer Concerts Series6:01 PM
ASHEVILLE, NC - The Biltmore Estate invites guests to enjoy a talented mix of performances during its 12th annual summer concert series. Warm breezes and stunning sunsets set the stage for concertgoers to listen and watch their favorite performers from the South Terrace lawn of America’s largest home.
Biltmore’s 12th Annual Summer Evening Concerts’ performers include: * Friday, Aug. 1: An Evening with Steven Curtis Chapman General Admission $32, Reserved $37, Premium Reserved $47 * Saturday, Aug. 2: KC & The Sunshine Band and Village People General Admission $55, Reserved $60, Premium Reserved $70 * Wednesday, Aug. 6: The Stepcrew General Admission $27, Reserved $32, Premium Reserved $42 * Thursday, Aug. 7: An Evening with Gladys Knight General Admission $55, Reserved $60, Premium Reserved $70 * Friday, Aug. 8: An Evening with B.B. King General Admission $60, Reserved $65, Premium Reserved $80 * Saturday, Aug. 9: An Evening with REO Speedwagon General Admission $40, Reserved $45, Premium Reserved $55 * Friday, Aug. 15: An Evening with The Beach Boys Admission $50, Reserved $55, Premium Reserved $65 Tickets go on sale Tuesday, April 1 at 8:00 a.m. To reserve tickets, visit www.biltmore.com or call 866-336-1255. Tickets do not include or require estate admission. Performers and dates are subject to change. Twelve-Month Passholders receive a $5.00 discount on reserved seating through June 15, and a $5.00 discount on general admission tickets until sold out. There is a limit of four discounted tickets per passholder per concert. Labels: asheville, Biltmore Estate, events, music Thursday, March 5, 2009 April 4 Never-Before-Seen Rooms Open in Biltmore House1:45 PM
ASHEVILLE, NC - This year, springtime at Biltmore takes on a whole new meaning when a suite of four never-before-seen bedrooms opens to visitors for the first time on April 4, 2009. These rooms provide a deep and revitalized connection between the two generations born at Biltmore and the visitors who come here to see George Washington Vanderbilt's 8,000-acre estate, a National Historic Landmark. Coinciding with the start of Biltmore's 24th annual Festival of Flowers (April 4-May 17), the opening of the new rooms represents a major milestone in Biltmore's history, and one of the most revealing opportunities to date for Biltmore to tell the Vanderbilt family story. Restored to its original splendor, this suite offers visitors the first opportunity to fully see the house as a family home and the Vanderbilts as parents. The Louis XV Room itself is perhaps the true heart of Biltmore. It served as birthplace of George and Edith Vanderbilt’s only daughter, Cornelia, in 1900. Years later, it was where Cornelia delivered her own two sons, George Henry Vanderbilt Cecil and William Amherst Vanderbilt Cecil in 1925 and 1928, respectively. When guests tour through the suite, they will realize like never before that Biltmore was much more than a magnificent house when Vanderbilt opened it on Christmas Eve 1895. It was a home, alive with family, friends and children. Biltmore’s team of curators, conservators and craftsmen spent years researching and sourcing materials from around the globe to authentically restore a part of Biltmore House that’s been closed to visitors for nearly 100 years. The 250 furniture pieces and decorative objects in the suite are part of George Vanderbilt’s collection, but have been tucked away in storage since the 1930s, away from public view. Liberal doses of gold and silk make these rooms literally shine on a sunny morning, said Leslie Klinger, curator of interpretation, which she suspects was the reason Edith Vanderbilt chose to deliver her daughter in the suite’s Louis XV Room. “Seeing this incredibly beautiful furniture reunited with the rest of Vanderbilt’s collection is really spectacular,” Klinger said. Biltmore’s experts engaged in extensive detective work throughout the restoration process. This included: • Piecing remnants of original wallpaper found underneath door moldings and drapery brackets to determine wallpaper patterns for the reproduction process; • Traveling to France to collaborate with fabric and wallpaper company designers to ensure the original fabrics were reproduced exactly; • Hours of cleaning and repairing the objects form George Vanderbilt’s collection; • Hand mixing of paints to match the original colors. With the opening of the suite, interpretation of Biltmore House itself is now expanded to focus on the people who once lived and visited in the home, in addition to the architecture and art collection. The visitor experience will be enhanced by the placement of lifestyle elements – items of the period – to achieve a lived-in feeling, more authentically portraying the day-to-day living that once took place in Biltmore House. Biltmore’s Museum Services staff members studied biographies of the people who visited the Vanderbilts and stayed in Biltmore House to populate the rooms with antique objects that represent their interests and lifestyles. “Many of the Vanderbilts’ guests enjoyed horseback riding, so period riding gear will be placed in at least one of the guest bedrooms,” Klinger said. When in original use, the suite was thought to have housed close friends and family who visited the Vanderbilts, including Willie Fields, George Vanderbilt’s best friend who played a major role in George’s courtship of Edith. During one of his visits, Willie wrote to his mother that he suspected Edith was “in a family way.” This story and many others like it reveal the Vanderbilt family’s life at Biltmore. Members of the Museum Services staff spent years researching Vanderbilt history to include tidbits like this on Biltmore’s new self-guided audio tour, available when the suite opens.Labels: asheville, Biltmore Estate Tuesday, March 3, 2009 Biltmore to Open Antler Hill Village in Spring 201010:49 AM
ASHEVILLE, NC - The Biltmore Company, which operates the National Historic Landmark Biltmore in Asheville, has announced that it will break ground on a new guest attraction, Antler Hill Village. Located adjacent to the Winery and River Bend Farm on its grounds, the area will be open to guests as part of daily admission to Biltmore. This pedestrian-friendly village, opening spring 2010, will become a center of activity that joins two historically significant and popular attractions at Biltmore. Antler Hill Village will expand current guest offerings at the estate and include a new exhibition space, village green with live entertainment, dining, shopping and a new outdoor adventure center. As part of this project, Biltmore Winery will be enhanced to offer a newly designed tour and tasting areas. The existing interpretive farm area with historic barn, kitchen garden and farmyard will be incorporated as well. Estimated cost of this project is $18.6 million. "We are pleased to announce this exciting new guest experience at Biltmore," said William A.V. Cecil Jr., CEO of The Biltmore Company. "This area of the estate has become a fun location for outdoor activities, and one that is rich with agricultural history. At Antler Hill Village, guests will learn even more about our family's interest in agriculture and the outdoors, as well as my great-grandfather's legacy of making Biltmore self-sustaining." George Vanderbilt called the hill overlooking the village area Antler Hill. The area where the village will be located was a hub for the estate employees to interact socially with dances, harvest fairs and classes in the evenings. "This area has a history of hospitality and entertaining," said Cecil. "With the creation of Antler Hill Village, we will draw from this history and offer guests a more contemporary experience of today’s Biltmore." The company consulted on this project with PGAV Destination Consulting, a nationally recognized master planning, architecture and design firm for many leading museums, historic properties and attractions. PGAV's clients include the Georgia Aquarium, Discovery Cove in Orlando, Mark Twain Boyhood Home and National Geographic Grand Canyon Visitors Center. The general contractor is PCL Construction Services, Inc., with NC headquarters in Charlotte, NC. PCL is a commercial buildings contractor with a specialized division that manages attraction-based construction, having worked for clients such as SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and Disney. Labels: asheville, Biltmore Estate, development Friday, February 27, 2009 Biltmore Estate Hosts 24th Annual Festival of Flowers April 4-May 17, 20096:00 AM
ASHEVILLE, NC - Flowers take center stage as a cast of thousands welcome springtime at Biltmore's Festival of Flowers, April 4 - May 17. In concert with the opening, on April 4, of a suite of four restored rooms inside Biltmore House, the annual estate-wide event celebrates the beauty of George Vanderbilt's 8,000-acre property and its original design by Frederick Law Olmsted, father of American landscape architecture. Restored to their original splendor, this suite of rooms offers visitors the first opportunity to fully see the house as a family home and the Vanderbilts as parents. The Louis XV Room itself is perhaps the true heart of Biltmore. It served as birthplace of George and Edith Vanderbilt's only daughter, Cornelia, in 1900. Years later, it was where Cornelia delivered her own two sons, George Henry Vanderbilt Cecil and William Amherst Vanderbilt Cecil in 1925 and 1928, respectively. Through family stories that span generations, and new blooms throughout the estate, Biltmore comes alive this spring. Festival of Flowers showcases a stunning display of tulips, Iceland poppies, snapdragons and foxglove in the Walled Garden, vibrant colors in the 20-acre azalea garden and cascades of native and exotic blooms in the natural gardens and walking trails. Biltmore's gardens, Olmsted's final and most grand project, are in their 119th year, continuing to mature and becoming more beautiful every year. This year's umbrella theme, "Preservation," ties in with the opening of the new rooms in Biltmore House. Floral displays inside the house will reflect the period of decoration of each room, or of décor during the Vanderbilt era. Guests will see elements of the Edwardian/Turn of the Century/Aesthetic Movement infused with bold and contrasting colors. The Winter Garden will introduce the secondary theme, "Flowers through Time," with a floral sundial of potted flowering plants arranged around the center fountain and classical music played throughout the day. Festivities across the estate will include music in the house and various locations, tips from Biltmore gardeners and innovative container garden displays in the Conservatory. Biltmore Winery celebrates with live music, wine tastings, seminars and children's activities. Seasonal Festival of Flowers wines are also crafted each year to mark the occasion. In addition, events are planned for adults and kids at River Bend Farm, and outdoor activities such as mountain biking and float trips are available at the adjacent Outdoor Center. Visit Biltmore Estate's Festival of Flowers page for more information. Labels: asheville, Biltmore Estate, flowers Thursday, December 20, 2007 How to decorate like Asheville's Biltmore Estate2:12 PM More than a million people visit Biltmore Estate in Asheville, and about 300,000 of them visit during Christmas season. Planning the decorations for the eight thousand acre Asheville attraction is quite a large task, to say the least. Luckily, Biltmore Estate employs a well-trained staff to prepare the House and its surrounding areas for the Holiday Season. Biltmore Estate's decorations include 150 Christmas trees, 25,000 ornaments, 25,000 lights and 1,500 poinsettias. Even though many of Biltmore's decorations maybe out of your price range, your house can still benefit from some of its decorating tips. ThemesFirst, find a theme that matches your decorations, and think about the colors in the room where you will set up your tree. Your house should show your guests something about you and your family. You can also mix between homemade and store-bought ornaments. Keep in mind that green and red are not the only colors you can use to decorate and make sure you have a theme that repeats throughout all of your decorated rooms. LightsMake sure to shape your tree before adding any Christmas lights. Asheville's Biltmore Estate makes use of 50 light strands, with six inches of space between each bulb. That means a tree that is six feet tall needs a total of eight sets of lights. Warning: Never plug in more than six strands of lights together and never plug in more than six strands to a single outlet. Adding more lights could cause an electrical fire. Working from the top of the tree down, weave the lights up and down across the branches. Take a step back, and look at the tree every once in a while to be sure the lights are placed so that the tree is evenly lit. Next, add garland or any other drapery before you add your ornaments. This keeps the garland from knocking off and breaking any of your precious ornaments. What you put on top can make or break a tree, and most many tree decorators put the tree topper on last. Putting it on before you stand the tree up can save quite a lot of frustration. You can bet the staff at the Biltmore weren't standing on rickety step-ladders while trying to put their tree toppers on last, especially as one of their trees is a 38-foot Frasier Fir. Also, make sure your Christmas tree skirt matches the rest of your decorations. You don't need to run out and buy one either-- an old tablecloth will suffice as long as it goes with everything. The Biltmore Estate will celebrate Christmas until January 1, 2008 and some of the special events include: Candlelight Christmas EveningsOffered by reservation only. Luminaries lead the way to the house's front door. The Biltmore House appears much as it would have during 19th century—- by fireplace and candlelight-- it will be an experience that you will certainly remember. Biltmore Activities and PackagesThe Winery will offer tours, cooking demonstrations and wine tasting throughout the Christmas season. Ticket InformationTickets prices will vary based on date and time. Persons ages 10 to 16 are half of the regular adult price. Kids nine and under are *free* when they are with a paying adult. See the Biltmore Estate web-site for more information, as special online rates are available. Labels: asheville, Biltmore Estate Previous Posts
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