Biltmore Estate Winery is located on the grounds of the Biltmore House in Asheville, North Carolina

The winery sits on the 8,000-acre Biltmore Estate, the largest privately owned house in the United States. To visit the winery, you must first purchase a ticket to the Biltmore Estate itself — the winery is not a separate venue you can enter without estate admission. The estate is open year-round, though hours vary by season.

The winery building itself is a restored historic structure on the property. It produces wines from grapes grown in vineyards on the estate and also sources fruit from other regions. The tasting room, production facility, and retail shop are all housed in the same building.

Key Takeaways

  • You must purchase Biltmore Estate admission to visit the winery; it is not a standalone destination.
  • The winery produces both estate-grown wines and wines made from fruit sourced elsewhere, with a tasting room where you can sample before buying.
  • Biltmore Estate admission prices and hours change by season, so check the official website before planning your visit.
  • The winery offers wine club memberships that provide discounts on purchases and exclusive access to certain wines.
  • Food and wine pairing experiences are available but require separate reservations beyond your estate ticket.

What you pay and what that includes

Biltmore Estate admission covers entry to the house, gardens, and grounds — including the winery. You do not pay a separate fee to visit the winery once you have your estate ticket. Admission prices vary depending on the season and the type of ticket you purchase. The estate offers different ticket levels: some include the house tour, some include the gardens, and some include both.

Wine tastings at the winery are included with your estate admission. You can taste multiple wines in the tasting room at no additional cost beyond your entry ticket. However, if you purchase wine to take home, you pay retail prices for each bottle. Wine club members receive a discount on all purchases, typically 10 to 15 percent, though the exact percentage changes year to year.

How to plan your visit

Check the Biltmore Estate website for current hours and admission prices before you go, as both change seasonally. The estate is busiest during fall (September through November) and around the winter holidays. If you prefer a quieter experience, visit in late winter or early spring.

Plan to spend at least two to three hours on the estate if you want to see the house, walk the grounds, and visit the winery. The winery itself typically takes 45 minutes to an hour if you taste wines and browse the retail shop. If you are interested in a food and wine pairing experience, those events are scheduled on specific dates and require a separate reservation made in advance through the estate's website.

Wine club membership and discounts

Biltmore Estate Winery offers a wine club with two membership tiers. Members receive discounted wine purchases, early access to limited-release wines, and invitations to exclusive member events held throughout the year. The club ships wine to your home on a regular schedule — typically quarterly — though you can adjust shipments or skip months if you choose.

Membership costs vary depending on the tier and the number of bottles in each shipment. You can join or cancel online through the Biltmore website. If you visit the winery in person, staff can also enroll you at the tasting room. The discount on purchases applies both to wines you buy during your visit and to wines shipped to you as part of your membership.

What wines the estate produces

Biltmore Estate Winery produces red wines, white wines, and rosés. The estate grows Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, and Riesling on its own vineyards. The winery also produces wines from fruit purchased from other vineyards in North Carolina and other regions, allowing them to offer a wider range of styles and price points.

The tasting room staff can describe each wine and recommend bottles based on your taste preferences. Wines range from dry to sweet, and price points span from budget-friendly to premium bottles. The winery also produces some wines available only to wine club members or only at the estate itself, not in retail stores.

Dining and pairing experiences

The Biltmore Estate has multiple restaurants and cafés on the grounds, separate from the winery. Some of these dining venues offer wine pairings with meals, using wines from the estate winery. These pairing experiences are not automatic — you must order them specifically when you make a reservation or order your meal.

The estate also hosts special wine-focused events throughout the year, such as wine education seminars or harvest celebrations. These events require separate registration and may have an additional cost beyond your estate admission. Check the Biltmore website's events calendar to see what is scheduled during your planned visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to buy wine if I visit the winery?

No. Wine tastings are included with your estate admission, and you can taste without purchasing. However, the tasting room is also a retail shop, so bottles are available if you decide to buy.

Can I visit the winery without touring the house?

No. All winery access requires Biltmore Estate admission. Some ticket types include the house tour and some do not, but you must purchase an estate ticket to enter the grounds where the winery is located.

Are the wines sold anywhere other than the estate?

Yes. Biltmore Estate wines are sold in select retail stores and online through the estate's website. However, some wines are exclusive to the winery or to wine club members and are not sold elsewhere.

What if I want to ship wine home?

You can purchase wine at the tasting room and have it shipped to your home if you live in a state that allows wine shipments. Shipping laws vary by state. The staff at the winery can tell you whether your state permits shipments and what the process is.

Is there a restaurant inside the winery building?

The winery building has a tasting room and retail shop but not a full restaurant. The Biltmore Estate has separate dining venues elsewhere on the grounds. You can eat at those restaurants and request wine pairings with your meal.