When Highlands Food & Wine rolls into town next month, the buzz will surely be about the big tents and big stages. But some of the festival’s most memorable moments happen away from the spotlight, at tables where wine, food, and story converge.
This year, On the Verandah — where Highlands diners have gathered for decades to pair fine wine with Chef Andrew Figel’s cooking — is hosting two back-to-back dinners that promise exactly that kind of magic.
On Friday, November 14, the Barrett name — practically Napa royalty — comes to Highlands. Hosting the evening is Remi Barrett, daughter of Heidi and Bo Barrett, who helped write the story of California wine. Heidi was the force behind cult legends like Screaming Eagle; Bo etched his mark with Chateau Montelena, whose victory at the 1976 Judgment of Paris stunned the world.
Now Remi carries that legacy forward with her own voice and perspective. Imagine sipping a glass while she shares what it was like growing up in the first family of Napa — that’s the intimacy these dinners offer.
The following night, Saturday, November 15, the vibe shifts from Napa history to Paso Robles passion. Brock Waterman of Brochelle Vineyards arrives with wines that smell of sun-warmed earth and taste of ripe berries and spice. He and his wife built Brochelle vine by vine, dry farming their land with grit and devotion. The result is wines that feel deeply personal, layered, and bold. At this dinner, Waterman will guide you through each pour — the kind of one-on-one connection you don’t get from reading a label.
Both evenings begin at 6:00 P.M. with passed hors d’oeuvres that set the tone — perhaps a silky bite of salmon, a crisp tartlet, or a morsel meant to spark conversation. Guests then sit down to a multi-course dinner crafted by Executive Chef and owner Andrew Figel. Figel’s cooking is known for its balance: refined yet soulful, inventive yet rooted in classic technique. His plates are designed not just to impress but to dance alongside great wines. Expect him to rise to the occasion with menus that showcase these extraordinary bottles.
Seats are $250 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations are available by phone or at resy.com, where menus will be posted as the dates draw closer. With the caliber of wines and the intimacy of On the Verandah’s dining room, these dinners won’t linger open for long.
So yes, the festival will be filled with music, laughter, and revelry. But if you’re looking for two nights where Napa history and Paso passion meet Highlands hospitality, you’ll find them at a table overlooking the lake, where you can sit with the people behind the wines, hear their stories, and taste the passion in every glass.
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