< Back to Oral History project: Wine in the South
ORAL HISTORY
Jerry Douglas
Biltmore Estate
Jerry Douglas works for Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. His responsibilities include the wine company, the for-your-home business, and marketing and sales for the inn and for Biltmore House and Gardens.
An early and important force in the business, Jerry played a role in the resurgence of the North Carolina wine industry. Under the direction of owner William Amherst Vanderbilt Cecil, Biltmore began planting grapes in 1981 and harvesting in 1984. The winery opened for business in 1985. Over his career, Jerry has served on the boards of a number of organizations, including the North Carolina Wine and Grape Council, Wine America, the Wine Market Council, and the American Institute of Wine and Food.