Biltmore Insider

Join Hope Wright, Biltmore Seminar Specialist, as she gives us the inside scoop on how to create a beautiful Christmas Centerpiece, using found items in your own backyard! To learn more decorating tips from Biltmore experts, go to biltmore.com/podcast.

Join Susan Hibbitts, in Biltmore's Champagne cellar, as she gives the inside scoop on pairing your favorite Biltmore red wine with different kinds of chocolate. For another great way to enjoy chocolate with red wine, try our special Biltmore Cabernet Cake! For the recipe, go to biltmore.com/podcast.

Join Chef French, executive chef at Biltmore's Bistro, as he gives us the inside scoop on how to prepare the perfect Holiday Rack of Lamb, with Winter Squash Hash of Butternut and Acorn Squash, Apple Smoked Bacon and a Port/Balsamic Reduction. To learn more about Biltmore's Field to Table tradition, and to get this fantastic recipe, go to biltmore.com/podcast.

Join Chef French, executive chef at Biltmore's Bistro, as he gives us the inside scoop on how to prepare a tomato coulis, with homegrown ingredients, which goes perfectly with local mountain trout and Peruvian purple potatoes. To learn more about Biltmore's Field to Table tradition, and to get this fantastic recipe, go to biltmore.com/podcast.

Join Biltmore's Director of Horticulture Parker Andes as he gives us the inside scoop on how Biltmore helped turn Western North Carolina into the Cradle of Forestry. Then learn about the national and state champion trees living in the gardens of America's Largest Home. To find out more, or to enjoy all the "Insider" podcasts, go to www.biltmore.com/podcast Helpful links Find out more about the Land Rover Experience. Find out more about the Kids' Adventure Course. Discover more outdoor activities. See the estate all year long. Buy tickets online.

What better way to explore Biltmore's 8,000 acres than in a high-tech Land Rover? Join Josh Williams, our Land Rover expert, as he gives us the Inside scoop on Biltmore’s Land Rover Experience Driving School. Then watch some of our younger guests discover the fun of Biltmore’s one-of-a-kind Kids Adventure Course. To find out more, or to enjoy all the “Insider” podcasts, go to www.biltmore.com/podcast Helpful links Find out more about the Land Rover Experience. Find out more about the Kids' Adventure Course. Discover more outdoor activities. See the estate all year long. Buy tickets online.

What better way to enjoy the lazy days of summer than casting your line by the French Broad River or floating through lush Appalachian scenery? You can do both at Biltmore! Come join Kent McClure for the inside scoop on fly-fishing, and Lloyd Smith, for a taste of rafting and kayaking on the third oldest river in the United States. Make time to savor summer at Biltmore. For all our Insider episodes, visit us at www.biltmore.com/podcast Helpful links Find out more about Festival of Flowers. See what's blooming in our gardens. See the gardens all year long. Buy tickets online.

Discover Biltmore’s beauty, both indoors and out. Learn how to create an easy-to-assemble floral basket inspired by Biltmore’s landscaper, Frederick Law Olmsted. Then, take a tour of Biltmore’s lively River Bend Farm. Once the estate’s center for farming and gardening, now River Bend Farm is a vibrant place to interact with blacksmithing, woodcarving, traditional Southern Appalachian music and dance, and much more. To find out more, or to enjoy all the "Insider" podcasts, go to www.biltmore.com/podcast Helpful links Find out more about Festival of Flowers. See what's blooming in our gardens. See the gardens all year long. Buy tickets online.

It's Festival of Flowers at Biltmore, and the one-year anniversary of our podcast! In our very first episode, we got the inside scoop on planting tulips in the Walled Garden…and this year there are over 70,000 blooms! But did you know that Fredrick Law Olmstead had different plans for that space? Join Leslie Klingner, a Biltmore curator, as she gives us the inside scoop on what finally happened in the Walled Garden. To find out more, or to enjoy all the "Insider" podcasts, go to www.biltmore.com/podcast Helpful links Find out more about Festival of Flowers. See what's blooming in our gardens. See the gardens all year long. Buy tickets online.

Whether you're an Asheville native, a first-time guest, or a Twelve-Month Passholder, there is something for everyone to enjoy at Biltmore. Today we hear from a first-time guest and a local Twelve-Month Passholder on how they like to explore Biltmore! To find out more, or to enjoy all the "Insider" podcasts, go to www.biltmore.com/podcast. Helpful links Use your pass for something other than visiting the house. Read about some other guest experiences. See the benefits of becoming a Twelve-Month Passholder Become a Twelve-Month Passholder

George Vanderbilt was one of the most eligible bachelors of the Gilded Age, and socialite Edith Stuyvesant Dresser was living in Paris with her two sisters. Both traveled in the highest social circles, and it was rumored that they first met at Queen Victoria's Jubilee in England. Listen as Biltmore historian Suzanne Durham gives us the inside scoop on George and Edith's Victorian wedding in Paris, and their return to what is now America's largest home. For more about Biltmore, go to www.biltmore.com.

We're getting requests from our listeners to hear more about Biltmore's specialty tours. Well, we're listening! Get the inside scoop on the Legacy of the Land experience, a driving tour of the 8,000 acres at Biltmore; the Behind-the-Scenes Tour, a rare look at un-restored areas of the house; and the Rooftop Tour, a birds-eye view of stunning vistas from Biltmore's rooftops and balconies. Check out our next podcast in February for the fairytale wedding of George Vanderbilt to Edith Dresser. For more information go to www.biltmore.com/podcast

New Year’s Eve has always been a time of reflection. The last evening of 1901 was no exception. In fact, with the Victorian Era coming to a close and the assassination of President McKinley, the dawning of 1902 was rife with thoughtful challenges. George and Edith Vanderbilt, always gracious mavens of hospitality, hosted a splendid weeklong celebration with noted guests at the closing of the year. Join Darren Poupoure, a Biltmore curator, as he gives us the inside scoop on New Year’s Eve 1901 at Biltmore and the distinguished guests present that evening.

Want your home to exude that special Christmas at Biltmore style? Learn how from Biltmore florist, Susan Partain, as she shares her expertise on adding a magic spark to your home this holiday season.

Just close your eyes and imagine Biltmore House by the glow of candlelight and dozens of fireplaces, with live music and stories of a Victorian Christmas past. Join Allison Dufty, the writer of our Christmas audio tour, from Antenna Audio, as she gives us the inside scoop on bringing turn of the century Christmas to life at Biltmore. As a special treat, you can also enjoy selections from the Biltmore "Candlelight Christmas Evenings" audio tour!

One of George Vanderbilt's favorite meals was turkey with cornbread stuffing; but whatever your holiday meal, be adventurous and try it paired with a new wine. Join John Moscone, one of our wine experts, for the inside scoop on wine and food pairings for the holidays. Especially wine and chocolate! And check out the gigantic gingerbread house, created by Biltmore pastry chefs-you'll have to see it to believe it! For the recipe, go to our website at www.biltmore.com/podcast

Imagine putting up and decorating a tree that is over three stories high! A Fraser fir, grown especially for Christmas at Biltmore Estate, is delivered this year to Biltmore House by Belgian Draft horses, and then the enormous task begins. Join Rick Conard, Director of Engineering Services, as he gives us the inside scoop on what it takes to install the magnificent Christmas tree in Biltmore House’s Banquet Hall. Watch our video of the tree raising at www.biltmore.com/podcast, and then visit Biltmore Estate to see the awe-inspiring tree firsthand.

In 1906, Edith Vanderbilt created a fall fair for estate workers and their families. She encouraged the tenants to express their creativity with a flower and vegetable garden contest. Today the legacy of the estate's first fall fair continues with our Harvest Home Celebration that includes crafts, farming demonstrations, music, dance, and more.

Just a few miles away from Biltmore House, there are over 94 acres of beautiful vineyards on the West side of Biltmore Estate. Dennis Wynne, Director of Vineyards will give us the insider tour of this beautiful landscape that most guests don't ever get to see. Then we will meet Sharon Fenchack, one of the Biltmore Estate Winemakers, who will walk us through the process of winemaking during Harvest time.

Education was extremely important to George Vanderbilt as evidenced by the Biltmore School of Forestry which he created to inspire conservation and efficient land management. George's wife, Edith Vanderbilt started the School of Domestic Science for young African-American women in the region as well as the Moonlight School which taught adult Literacy for Estate workers. The Vanderbilts inspired more than seven educational institutions in the Asheville area at the turn of the century. Listen as Curator Leslie Klingner tells about the inspirational legacy of George and Edith Vanderbilt and Biltmore Estate.

Imagine sunset at Biltmore House, overlooking the beautiful Appalachian mountains; then add a huge outdoor stage with live music, plus food and wine. That’s what you’ll get for the first two weekends in August for the Biltmore Summer Evening Concerts. This year Biltmore Estate welcomes Tony Bennett, Three Dog Night, the Temptations and Bruce Hornsby and the Noisemakers. This is the 5th year Bruce Hornsby has played at the Biltmore Estate. Get the inside scoop on the triple-platinum artist and what it’s like to perform at Biltmore!

What used to be a dilapidated cow barn is now a world-class Equestrian Center, right here in Asheville, North Carolina. Ginger Cecil began riding horses at Biltmore as a young girl and now oversees the boarding and riding lessons offered at the Equestrian Center. If you love horses, now is the time to be at Biltmore Estate for the Summer Classic Horse show, one of the biggest hunter/jumper shows in the United States. Get the inside scoop on the Grand Prix, fine horsemanship and the Biltmore Estate Equestrian Center.

What better way to celebrate than a glass of champagne...or is it sparkling wine? The Biltmore Estate Winery opened in 1985 and before that, the facility was used as the Dairy Barn for the estate. Find out the history and process of making, opening, and drinking champagne and sparkling wine.

More than a century ago, when George Vanderbilt created Biltmore Estate, his Landscape architect Fredrick Law Olmsted did rough surveys of the land with determination to protect any areas with possible archaeological significance. Today that intuition has been confirmed by the Biltmore Mound, an almost perfect 1,000 square foot site with clearly stratified layers of dirt, which offer clues to what occurred at different points of the Connestee's cultural timeline. The Connestee are believed to be the ancestors of the Cherokee tribes. The "Biltmore Mound" is one of thirty currently documented archaeological sites on the estate.With help from a National Geographic grant, an archaeological team from Appalachian State University is on the forefront of answering questions about the little-known Connestee people. They are also filling out the picture of what we know about native people in North Carolina.

During George Vanderbilt's time, the highest floor of Biltmore House was where the ladies maids and domestic staff made their home. Now newly restored, the Fourth Floor is a veritable treasure trove of history and includes two very special rooms that Mr. Vanderbilt used when entertaining important guests: The Model Room and Observatory. Join us for a look at the restoration process, and get a bird's eye view of the more than 8,000 acres of Biltmore Estate.

Summer time is always exciting, but imagine playing hide and seek at Biltmore House, or swimming in a pool on the South Terrace of Biltmore Estate! Dini Pickering, great-granddaughter of George Vanderbilt, relates some of her favourite memories from growing up on the estate. Get the inside scoop on what makes Biltmore Estate extra special during the summer!

Jake Jones has worked at Biltmore Estate since he was 9 years old, helping his father milk cows and work on the farm. Being a part of the Biltmore family for over 50 years has given Jake a unique perspective on life, work, and the community at Biltmore. Sit back and enjoy a little piece of Appalachian history while Jake Jones spins a yarn of Biltmore Past.

Life in Western North Carolina was difficult at the turn of the century, but Biltmore Estate provided Asheville residents with quality employment and a higher standard of living. Learn about Essie Smith, the youngest girl to work at Biltmore House, and the chamber maids who had the daunting task of cleaning the second and third floor bedrooms and 43 bathrooms. (The trick was to anticipate the needs of each guest without breaking the chamber pots!) Get the inside scoop on Biltmore Estate and the dedicated individuals who worked behind the scenes to make America's largest house into a home.

Spring is beautiful in Western Carolina. Today Parker Andes, Biltmore Estate's Director of Horticulture, gives us the details on how his crew grows 95,000 tulips every spring for Festival of Flowers. Then Vonciel Baudouin, Biltmore Estate Winery's culinary specialist, reveals how to put together the perfect spring picnic.