Robbie Caponetto
The shuttle toBiltmore Houseisnt for the faint of heart.
Yet the butterflies swirling in my stomach arent due to fear but anticipation.
They return every year to see the home in all its holiday finery.
Credit:Robbie Caponetto
Theyre sure that Ill be doing the same soon enough.
Then, through the shuttle window, the 175,000-square-foot French chateau-style mansion comes into view.
As I enter Biltmore House, the outside world floats away.
Credit:Robbie Caponetto
People flock to Biltmore Estate year-round.
But the real gem here is Biltmore House, which is also the main draw at Christmas.
In any case, this would be the first of many over-the-top gatherings held at the house.
The Christmas tree in Biltmore House’s 70-foot high banquet hall.
Here, the centerpiece wasand still isan impressive 30- to 40-foot Fraser fir standing in the banquet hall.
They covered it with lights and ornaments and stuck presents in the branches rather than just underneath the tree.
It makes you wonder, How did they do it almost 130 years ago?
A Christmas tree in another room of the Biltmore house.
We have an oral history from a girl named Eugenia who was given paper dolls, says Henry.
She told Mrs. Vanderbilt, I dont like paper dolls.
It becomes clear to me why people return to the estate; there is just so much to see.
The Christmas tree in the main house’s library.Credit:Robbie Caponetto
Biltmores team of designers also takes great care in preserving the homeowners brand of Gilded Age glamour.
Usually, they select a theme and thoughtfully plan every inch to how they imagine the Vanderbilts preferred it.
(The theme during my visit is designers choice.)
An employee pours wine at the Biltmore’s Wine Bar.
Each room is informed by stories pulled from the Vanderbilt archives.
Any additional greenery and branches are cut and collected from across the vast property and incorporated into the decor.
Thats what really makes our arrangements stand apart, says Borchers.
A smoked old fashioned at The Inn on Biltmore Estate.
Its what George would have done.
The priority is authenticity, she says, and we take that very seriously.
Then from there, the rooms will be divvied up among the designers who will get to work.
Garlands adorn the entrance of the house.
They brainstorm, curate, andcome Septemberimplement their ideas.
However, it always fills up fast for the holiday season, so secure your booking early.
Youll find a variety of lodging choices, ranging from bed-and-breakfasts to hotels to resorts.
Plants thrive year-round in the the house’s winter garden.
Wash it all down with a swig from a bottle of regional favorite Cheerwine purchased fromThe Creamerynext door.
Finish things off by making smores at a nearby firepit.
Dont miss out on a tasting of Biltmore wines or a trip to the verdant winter conservatory.
The Surf and Turf with Filet Mignon at the Dining Room at the Biltmore Hotel.
Also go to Antler Hill Village, where there are four different shops filled with souvenirs.
Hurricane Helene has impacted the South.
Learn how you’ve got the option to help support our neighborshere.
Dessert from The Dining Room.
Gingerbread house-making at Biltmore.Credit:Robbie Caponetto
