Wine - Biltmore Estates

One of the best things about doing this blog (other then giving me an excuse to drink), is that I am able to research things that are new to me, but have been around for a while. The world has always been an open book to me and I love to learn from it. I never thought research would be so much fun, but that may be from a small buzz I get from sampling liquor, beer and wine while writing. I feel like I am finding a new message in every bottle I drink.

Best Cellars in Arlington has become a weekend must. It's so much fun to go in, taste, and walk out with a few bottles of wine or beer. A couple of posts ago I mentioned a buttery Chardonnay from North Carolina. Wines from North Carolina?!? WTF?, I thought as the clerk began to pour for tasting. This had to some sort of joke. It just had to be terrible, but I was very wrong. I decided to research the wine and ended up find out more about North Carolina as a wine region.

The wine I tried was a value driven Chardonnay from Biltmore Estates (Asheville, North Carolina, 2008, $13). I tasted the bottle and ended up buying one on a return visit. This savory, buttery, full-bodied Chardonnay has good acidity which is highlighted by citrus and tropical fruit flavors. It would pair very well with seafood (shrimp, scallops, mussels), flavorful cheese (Asiago, Gouda) or pasta with cream sauce. It is important to remember when pairing wine with food that heavier wines pair well with heavier dishes and lighter wines, well, you get the point. With Chardonnay, especially a full-bodied, buttery, oaky Chard such as this one, you would want to look for dishes or items that are bold, hearty, and filling and are not over seasoned with spices.

After trying the wine, I decided to dig deeper into North Carolina as a wine region as it is home to more than 90 wineries; a number which has quadrupled since 2001. Most wineries are planted in the Western and Piedmont regions of the state below the mountains. The two major areas of focus for wine production are the native muscadine grapes and European-style vinifera grapes with such varitals as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay and Viognier.

Plantings of native muscadine grapes, also known as Scuppernongs, are relatively pest resistant and thrive in the hot, sandy conditions of the Coastal region. Muscadines contain high levels of Resveratrol (a cancer reducer and life extender) and other antioxidants. Some wineries even sell grape skins to pharmaceutical companies.

Biltmore, in the mountains of North Carolina, is the most visited winery in the US, hosting approximately 1 million visitors to sample award-winning estate wines each year. The estate was built for the rich and famous Vanderbilt family in 1889 by George Washington Vanderbilt II as a vacation house. The first vineyards at Biltmore were established in 1971 in an area below 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 thus keeping the homes original intention of a self-supporting estate.

This year the winery is celebrating its 25th anniversary of being open to the public and continues to welcome and educate guests during this quarter of a century. The winemakers actually have educational tasting videos on their website. Though a little robotic in their approach and pitch, they are very informative about the wines of the region.

Visit Biltmore today to sift through a complimentary wine tasting of their complete portfolio of “robust reds, refreshing rosés, and crisp whites.” The winery also offers a wine shop with a complete selection of estate wines, accessories, and gourmet foods. This would be a great weekend retreat... hmm, this gives me an idea.