Dr. Volker R. Anding & Mrs. Erin Anding

Members Since 2007

How has Biltmore Membership enhanced your personal and professional life?
When we first arrived in Miami in 2001, we stayed at the Biltmore for eight months while looking for a suitable residence in view of Volker’s new position as German Consul General. Consequently, the Biltmore became our “home away from home;” we used it frequently for official functions. At the same time, through The Cellar Club, we thoroughly enjoyed “the good life” at the pool, the spa, and the wonderful variety of restaurants.

In your career as an international diplomat, was there a country or region where you were stationed that is most memorable?
Of course, every diplomatic posting presented excitement and challenges: from being chased by a hippopotamus in Senegal/West Africa to sitting down for dinner with Presidents of Latin American countries. When Volker was German Ambassador to Uruguay, we loved the beach life at Punta del Este as well as excursions to Buenos Aires and the mountains and glaciers of Patagonia.

Tell us about your appreciation of wine.
As a student, Volker developed a taste for good French vintages, later shared with Erin during visits to Burgundy. During our time at the German Consulate in San Francisco, we loved to explore Napa and Sonoma Valleys; we tasted one of the first bottles of Opus One poured by Robert Mondavi himself. And, of course, German Rieslings are hard to beat.

Do you have a personal interest that plays a significant role in your life?
Volker is an avid tennis player and thoroughly enjoys his workouts at the Biltmore Fitness Center with wonderfully inspiring instructors. As a cellist, he is an enthusiastic member of the Alhambra Symphony Orchestra. Erin loves to work with kids; she teaches in the Miami-Dade County Public School System.

You are actively involved in giving back to the community. Tell us about the organizations you assist.
Volker is the Chairman of the Board of the Miami Bach Society which brings some of the best baroque music ensembles from all over the world to Coral Gables, with concerts also at the Biltmore. He is on the Institutional Review Board of Baptist Health South Florida and a board member of the Classical South Florida radio station. Erin supports the United Way as a Committee member at her school.

What has been the most memorable experience (so far!) you have had at the Biltmore?
We have had so many memorable experiences, among them festive family dinners at the Palme d’Or, Sunday brunches with friends at Fontana, and breakfasts or lunches at our favorite spot in the region, the 19th Hole with its magnificent view of the Biltmore Golf Course. And — most memorable — during our eight-month stay, a “friendly encounter” with a resident ghost.