Luc Morlet, Steve and Stephanie Miskew
For Highlands Wine Shoppe, 2025 has been defined by rare discoveries, lively gatherings, and unforgettable celebrations. Owners Stephanie and Steve Miskew began the year with a milestone at Premiere Napa Valley, the prestigious trade-only auction where Napa’s finest winemakers craft one-of-a-kind lots. As North Carolina’s only buyers, they secured two ultra-exclusive 60-bottle collections: a sparkling wine collaboration between Paula Kornell and Peter Mondavi Jr., and a single-barrel cabernet franc from Morlet Family Vineyards. Each represents Napa’s legacy of craftsmanship and innovation, treasures soon to arrive in Highlands.
Back home, the Shoppe continued to shine as a destination for wine lovers of every level. With more than 800 labels curated by Stephanie—a Certified Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers, CSW, and WSET III—guests are guided through tastings with warmth and expertise. Daily “by the glass” offerings from state-of-the-art wine machines let visitors sample at their own pace, while hand-selected cheeses and charcuterie encourage lingering and conversation.
Summer brought energy and charm to the Shoppe’s calendar. #ThirstyThursday tastings, live music every Saturday, and #SinatraSunday blended timeless tunes with timeless pours. Special events like “Lyrics on the Lawn” and themed tastings kept the season vibrant, offering guests new reasons to sip, swirl, and socialize.
As autumn arrived, Highlands Wine Shoppe once again added its own flavor to the Highlands Food + Wine Festival. The 4th Annual Harvest Lunch welcomed back Chef Ken Naron of ENVIE Catering, offering enticing dishes crafted for the season. Guests enjoyed global wine selections from premier vintners and an exclusive Private Cellar tasting with iconic winemaker Chris Carpenter of Cardinale fame. Saturday saw the return of the tented tasting seminars, this year welcoming Matt Meyer of Meyer Family Cellars featuring his beautiful portfolio of wines and stories of his father’s founding of Silver Oak, and Master Sommelier/Master of Wine Eric Hemer presenting some iconic old world wines from famed importer Frederick Wildman. Highlands Wine Shoppe is the talk of the town during the Food & Wine Festival.
From rare Napa acquisitions to community tastings and festival flair, Highlands Wine Shoppe has proven itself more than a retail space—it’s a hub of connection, discovery, and joy.
Highlands Wine Shoppe • 269 Oak Street, Highlands • highlandswineshoppe.com
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