Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/113109
Going Bi-Coastal NORTH CAROLINA���S BILTMORE WINES REACHES TO SOURCES���AND BUYERS���IN CALIFORNIA by Kelly Merritt B iltmore, located in the hauntingly beautiful North Carolina wilderness, has topped the list of preferred destinations for foodies and travelers for years. It���s also a frequently visited destination for wine lovers, which has helped lead the way for the Biltmore wine brand to expand nationally to 30 states. Biltmore Wines is on track to become a fully national brand within the next two years. To supply that expansion, Biltmore has had to reach further than the nearly 100-acre vineyard on its own North Carolina estate. When consumer demand exceeds supply, it���s time to expand. But when your brand is Biltmore Wines, which must bear the hallmark of such a storied history, inding and securing dependable, high-quality fruit isn���t something a winemaker can do via the Yellow Pages. The terroir��in North Carolina presented some unique challenges. Biltmore���s vintners knew they had to look west, where wine grapes were plentiful and vintner experience unmatched. Bi-coastal winemaking and fruit sourcing is all about blending���of relationships and of grapes. Biltmore���s North Carolina vineyards. 1 16 / the tasting panel / march 2013