Talent

What makes this food & wine festival exceptional?

Our 2025 chef, beverage, and musical talent are out of this world. From Michelin star winners to James Beard nominees, semifinalists, finalists and winners, New York Times Best Restaurant list makers, Southern Living’s Best New Restaurants to your local neighborhood gathering places, our tastemakers are second-to-none at Highlands Food & Wine. Nejoy Grammy nominated and award winning bands and top-of-class wines, spirits, craft beers and non–alcoholic elixors and coffee.

Ashley Helms

Chestnut

Main Event

Aviva Vino

Bailey’s

Barbour

Billy Kramer

NFA Burger

Smoke Signals

Blade & Bow

Blind Boys of Alabama

Shot at Redemption

Bluecoat Gin

Bryan Hull

Owens & Hull

Smoke Signals

Bulleit Bourbon

Casamigos Tequila

Champagne Pol Roger

Champagne Taittinger

Champagne Tattinger

Claudia Amezquita

Modelo Private Dining

Main Event

Crown Royal

Daniel López

Paseo

Smoke Signals

Davis Family Vineyards

Dayna Lee

Comal 864

Smoke Signals

Delicato Family Vineyards

Deutsch Family Wines

Diageo

Domaine Carneros

Eco Valley Imports

Edmunds Oast Brewing Co

Empire Distributing

Far Niente

Frederick Wildman & Sons

Gundlach-Bundschu

Heaven Hill

Jake Stone

Salthouse Catering

Grand Tasting

Jamie Barnes

Serving the Culture

Main Event

Jamie Davis

The Hackney

Main Event

Jeff Allen

Millers All Day

Grand Tasting

Joe Cash

Scoundrel

Main Event

Josh Taylor

Lost Isle

Main Event

Kobrand

Kyle Bryner

Blue Hound Barbecue

Smoke Signals

Luke Owens

Native Fine Diner

Julep Contemporary Kitchen

Markie McCullough

The Ugly Dog Pub

Grand Tasting

Massimiliano Proietti

Ristorante Paoletti

Main Event

Matt Weinstein

OAK Steakhouse

Grand Tasting

Methodical Coffee

Morgan Lewis

Halls Catch

Main Event

Mutual Distributing of NC

Nico Abello

Table 301

Main Event

Nikki Lane

Main Event

Oscar Diaz

Little Bull

Smoke Signals

Tataco, Aaktun

Oscar Johnson

Jimmy Pearls

Main Event

Paul McDonald and the Mourning Doves

Smoke Signals

Perry Anderson

Corner Kitchen

Main Event

Rachel Lewicki

The Secret Garden

Grand Tasting

Railroad Earth

Smoke Signals

Rodney Strong Vineyards

Santi Guzzetti

Ilda

Grand Tasting

Sarah McClure

Southside Smokehouse and Grill

Smoke Signals

Shawn Kelly

Fork & Plough

Grand Tasting

Sierra Nevada

Sophie Delaney

One Wicker Cheese Co

Grand Tasting

Sue Zamanick

Zasu

Main Event

Taylor Montgomery

Montgomery Sky Farm

Main Event

The Psycodelics

Grand Tasting

The Wallflowers

Main Event

Treasury Wine Estates

Trey McMillan

Lowcountry Oyster Co

Main Event

Tryon Distributing

Veuve Clicquot

Wagner Family of Wine