Sharon Fenchak

Coming Up

Training at Penn State University and University of Georgia at Athens gave Sharon Fenchak the academic grounding that supported the cellar work to come. Her early professional years moved through Assistant Winemaker at Habersham Winery in Baldwin, Georgia, and then winemaker at Chestnut Mountain Winery in Braselton, Georgia. Those roles established the practical habits the trade demands: close attention to detail, a sense of timing, and enough flexibility to let science and instinct work together in the glass. At Biltmore Winery in Asheville, North Carolina, she entered as Assistant Winemaker in 1999–2003, beginning a long run with the estate. From 2003–2018, she served as winemaker there, building her role within the organization and helping define the wines that carry the Biltmore name. Since 2018, she has served as Executive Winemaker and vp of winemaking and vineyard of Biltmore Winery in Asheville, North Carolina, a position that reflects both tenure and influence across the winery’s broader work.

Where They Are Now

At Biltmore Wine in Asheville, United States, Sharon Fenchak works where technical precision meets an established estate program. As Executive Winemaker and VP of winemaking and vineyard, she sits at the center of the wine side of the operation, where each decision is part of a seasonal cadence. The role carries accumulated experience, but it also remains rooted in the day-to-day discipline of the trade: blend by blend, bottle by bottle, season after season.

Signature

Sharon's signature wines include Biltmore® Century Sweet Red Wine, Vanderbilt Reserve® Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Biltmore Reserve Chardonnay, Biltmore Estate Winery® Cabernet Sauvignon, and Biltmore Estate Winery® Riesling. Taken together, they show range across red and white, sweet and structured, and more restrained expressions. Each carries the Biltmore name, and together they point to a winemaker working across style, balance, and the distinct brief of each bottle.

In Their Words “I am proud of the wines I handcraft for Biltmore, and honored to be part of the small percentage of women winemakers in the world.”

Honors

Sharon's honors include award-winning wines. In a trade where recognition usually shows up in the glass, that distinction reflects consistency as much as outcome. For Sharon Fenchak, the honors sit within a career shaped by training, experience, and long service to Biltmore’s winemaking team.