Maintaining the Feels: Highlands Wine Shoppe

Written By: Marlene Osteen | Issue: March-2022

Annelize Giliomee , and Steve and Stephanie Miskew

You will likely not be surprised to learn that I love to spend time in wine shops.  

And why not?  What wine lover – fledgling oenophile and seasoned collector alike – doesn’t love spending time among the bottles, interesting bottles, to see what turns up. 

The key, of course, is interesting.  

In Highlands, devotees of the hunt have long known that the Highlands Wine Shoppe is the place where such bottles are most likely uncovered. First established in 2014 as Mountaintop Wines, Davis Picklesimer bought the store in 2016.  

This year it was purchased by Steve and Stephanie Miskew, who met Picklesimer on visits to Highlands and the shop during the last 12 years.  Then at the end of 2021, following their late summer purchase of Buck’s in Cashiers, friends called to say that the Wine Shoppe might be for sale – and an agreement was quickly concluded.  

They bring to the store a collective wisdom certain to make the shop incredibly exciting to wine buyers and browsers.  

Steve is CEO of Southeast Centers – a comprehensive real estate services firm based in Florida.  Stephanie is a Certified Sommelier with The Court of Master Sommeliers, a Fox News Wine and Food Contributor, Host of the Wine Atelier Podcast (a treasure trove of “real world advice on mastering wine”) and author of The Glamorous Gourmet – a blog dedicated to food, wine, and travel. 

The couple have clearly gotten into wine retail out of passion, enthusiasm, and professionalism.  

As Stephanie said, “We don’t want to change anything drastically.  It is our intention to maintain the overall feel. We understand that both the Highlands Wine Shoppe and Buck’s are hallowed grounds in their respective communities – hubs of community where people gather to relax, meet friends or celebrate special occasions in their lives.  Our plan is just to enhance the customer experience and build on what’s already there.”

With a home in Cashiers, they are looking forward to spending more time in Highlands, “to be hands-on in the wine store, and not just absentee owners.”    

Assisting them as Managing Partner and day-to-day operator is Annelize Giliomee. Since her arrival in Highlands from South Africa two decades ago, Giliomee has been a reliable and respected resource of wine information for many.  A master at demystifying the wine buying experience, she has worked at several operations in town, including the Highlands Wine Shoppe. 

As Stephanie told me “Annelize and I were on the same page from the time we met.” 

They share a mission to offer wines from around the world for everyday drinking, along with hard-to-find collectibles, to get to know their customers and thier particular tastes, and to provide advice and guidance.  They encourage folks to visit the store’s “wine station” where 16 wines are offered by the glass in various pour sizes. 

Described by Giliomee as a “playground for your palate,” it’s a chance to discover new wines.  Perhaps, as Stephanie says, you’ll come in a Chardonnay fan and leave loving Greco di Tufo.”

And, if you’re seeking some of the varietal wines mentioned in this month’s story about wine and soup, here are some finds from the Highlands Wine Shoppe: 

Chablis:  Drouhin Reserve de Vaudon; Rioja:  Muga Rioja Reserve; Chianti, Felsina Chianti Classico; Cru Beaujolais: Drouhin Hospices de Belleville Fleurie.