Nestled in the heart of Asheville, NC is the 8,000-acre Biltmore Estate, which was built by the Vanderbilt family between 1889 and 1895. The house remains an excellent example of architecture from the Gilded Age and is famous the world over.
In recent years the estate has sponsored an art contest. The Biltmore Wine Label Design Contest allows artists around the world to compete for the opportunity to have their artwork displayed on the Biltmore’s annual Christmas wine bottles.
In 2013 the winner was local artist Perry Winkler, owner of Winkler Fine Art Gallery in DuBois. This year, Winkler is again a finalist and fans of his work can vote on his design on the Biltmore’s Web site.
“The exposure is great!” Winkler laughed when asked what he thinks of the event. He said so much relies on social media today and he is thrilled with how many people have voted and spread the word about the contest.
Back in 2012, a student alerted him to the contest and he entered and won the 2013 contest. Should he win this year, he would be the first artist to win the contest twice.
The contest stipulates that the artwork must feature the Biltmore house and the artist’s feelings towards the house and estate in reference to the holidays.
Winkler said visiting the estate is inspiring in and of itself, and he found himself able to picture what a potential label might look like.
This year’s submission includes two carriage horses posing with the carriage in the snow with a snow-covered forest and the Biltmore house in the background.
Winkler said the inspiration came when he was on the carriage ride as part of the award for winning the 2013 contest. He was taking pictures and felt that this was the basis of another painting.
The statement that goes along with the entry says: “It was during a carriage ride on the estate that I was able to experience a whole new perspective of the Biltmore House.
“As in the case of my most successful paintings, this image just presented itself to me, almost as a Christmas gift. When, as an artist, you experience something so beautiful, you can’t help but feel a sense of responsibility to share it.”
The painting is in watercolor. Winkler started drawing the picture in the spring and had until Dec. 25 to submit the final product, and he made the submission deadline, but barely. About a week later, he said, he learned he was one of the finalists.
As the voting progresses, Winkler said the numbers are a good indication of how the votes are going, but the officials have to review the votes. Then the winner is notified in February, but has to keep the secret until the official announcement at the end of February.
He said it is extremely hard to keep the information to yourself during that time. The artist receives a great deal of exposure with the wine being sold around the world. About 124,000 bottles were sold last time and more are sold each year.
The prizes are associated with the estate and can include free wine, dinners, tours and so on.
“What is priceless is the exposure,” Winkler said. “Winning exposes the artist and their hometown to a wider world. Each label includes information on the artist and their home.”
Winkler said winning also opens doors business-wise and makes the artist’s work more collectible. “It can help so many ways indirectly,” he noted, adding it is also great publicity for the Biltmore Estate, as well. “People all over the world come to see estates like this…anything associated with the Vanderbilt’s holds prestige.”
He added that the exposure in this area has also been tremendous. He said maybe 10 years ago, people in this area may not have known about the estate or what it was exactly, but with this opportunity, more people are aware and interested.
“It’s really emotionally overwhelming how people have supported me,” he said.
To view the entries and vote, visit here.