The Highlands Food & Wine Festival may be known for its big stages and headliner tastings, but some of the festival’s most memorable moments happen away from the spotlight. Across Highlands, intimate dinners, tastings, and seminars invite guests to pull up a chair with winemakers, hear the stories behind the bottles, and savor meals crafted by chefs who understand how to let the wine shine. Here’s the lineup of wine-focused events outside the regular schedule.
Monday, November 10
Foragers, Farmers, and Friends at High Country Wine & Provisions | 6:00 P.M.
Chef Johannes Klapdohr of The Library Kitchen + Bar creates a four-course menu elevated with foie gras, white truffles, and caviar, paired to eight Davis Family Vineyard wines. Cooper and Guy Davis pour selections straight from their cellar for an indulgent evening that sets the tone for the week.
$260 + tax/gratuity
highcountrywineprovisions.com
Thursday–Saturday, November 13–15
Tuscany Wine Tastings at Highlands Fine Art & Estate Jewelry Wine Shop | 12:00–4:00 P.M.
Enjoy complimentary tastings of Tuscan wines while browsing fine art and jewelry. These afternoon sessions offer a cultured pause between the bustle of festival events.
highlandsfineart.com | (828) 526-0656
Friday, November 14
Fourth Annual Harvest Lunch at Highlands Wine Shoppe | 12:00–4:00 P.M.
Chef Ken Naron serves a harvest-inspired feast that bridges Old and New World wines with bold Louisiana warmth. For those seeking something rare, a private cellar tasting with Napa winemaker Chris Carpenter adds an exclusive layer.
$250 + tax/gratuity
highlandswineshoppe.com
Barrett Family Wine Dinner at On the Verandah | 6:00 P.M.
Remi Barrett, heir to one of Napa’s most storied families, hosts an evening of storytelling and pours. Executive Chef Andrew Figel’s menu weaves with Barrett wines to create a dinner that feels like sitting inside California’s vinous history.
$250 + tax/gratuity | Tickets: Resy
Farm Harvest Dinner & Barn Dance at Old Edwards Inn | 6:00 P.M.
Celebrate the region’s bounty with Sunburst Trout, Anson Mills grains, and live music from the Back Porch Orchestra. Equal parts feast and festival, this is Highlands hospitality at its most down-to-earth.
$270 + tax/gratuity
oldedwardshospitality.com
Cinder & Cellar Wine Dinner at Flat Mountain Farm | 6:00 P.M.
Under the open sky, champagne and caviar lead into Chef Santiago Guzzetti’s fire-inspired, French-inflected menu. Burgundy and Champagne from the Boisset Collection round out a night that’s as indulgent as it is unforgettable.
$450 + tax/gratuity
flatmountainfarm.com
Saturday, November 15
Oakville Legacy & Meyer Family Cellars Seminar at Highlands Wine Shoppe | 1:30–3:30 P.M.
Matt Meyer pours rare Cabernets from deep within his family cellar, offering guests a taste of Silver Oak lineage and Oakville heritage in an intimate seminar.
$165 | highlandswineshoppe.com
“Tour de France” Seminar at Highlands Wine Shoppe | 4:30–6:30 P.M.
Master Sommelier and Master of Wine Eric Hemer guides guests across France’s great wine regions, from Champagne to Bordeaux. His insight and humor make this whirlwind tasting both approachable and unforgettable.
$175 + tax/gratuity
highlandswineshoppe.com
Brochelle Wine Dinner at On the Verandah | 6:00 P.M.
Paso Robles winemaker Brock Waterman brings his soulful, dry-farmed wines to Highlands for a dinner of rich pours and bold pairings. Chef Andrew Figel’s cuisine amplifies the story of terroir in every glass.
$250 + tax/gratuity | Tickets: Resy
Oyster Roast at Highlander Mountain House | 3:00 P.M.
Head to the HMH for a fall oyster roast, with oysters from Pelican Oyster Company. The ticket includes all you can shuck oysters, your first beer from Munkle Brewing, and live bluegrass on the porch from Flat Bridge String Band.
$60 + tax/gratuity | Tickets: Resy
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