I joined about 30 other diners for my first Highlands wine dinner Monday night at Wolfgang’s Restaurant and Wine Bistro. It was the perfect size gathering to meet new people and learn about wine in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. There’s something about sitting around a big candle-lit table, chatting amicably above the din while friendly, efficient servers present you with course after course and wine after wine. You find yourself transported to Napa and, invariably, the conversation turns toward your dinner companions’ interesting excursions into the growing regions of California (or Italy or Germany—wherever the home of the evening’s featured Vineyard might be).

The Vineyard this particular evening was Swanson, (I’m a new fan of their Pinot Grigio, by the way). And the menu prepared by Chef Ryan and Wolfgang was scrumptious!

I’m already looking forward to next Monday’s event: “The Bad Boys of Napa.” That just sounds like something you have to go to even if you’re not a wine enthusiast, doesn’t it? I’m picturing two leather clad, wine bearing Harley riders rolling into our quaint mountain village to the sounds of George Thorogood. Though the entrance likely won’t be that grand or colorful, the evening is sure to satisfy—especially since Mindy Green, the ebullient “other half” of Wolfgang himself, is scheduled to be in house for this one (we missed you last week, Mindy!).

If you do happen to favor food and wine events—with or without the Bad Boys—you’ll want to mark your calendar for November 12-15 when the town presents Highlands Culinary Weekend 2009. Wine dinners abound in our delightful mountain town during this annual fall street festival. And one of last year’s favorite events—the “Sip and Stroll”—along Main Street in the crisp fall air, returns this year.

Highlands’ eclectic restaurants break out all the stops to showcase their culinary prowess for Culinary Weekend. This year, Old Edwards is holding two Wine Dinners for the occasion—one at Madison’s Restaurant and Wine Garden and one at The Farm. Each dinner will feature the farm-to-table culinary creations of Old Edwards Executive Chef Johannes Klapdohr.

At The Farm, wine will flow freely, bountiful platters of delectable food will be passed family style, and the evening will shape itself with friendly chatter, laughter and neighborly camaraderie—all fostered by the rustically enchanted atmosphere of Farm at Old Edwards. Guests will share bottles of Duckhorn Vineyards, Paraduxx and Goldeneye as dusk brings its special magic and the soothing sounds of live music lend the perfect ambiance to a memorable evening.

The Madison’s Wine Dinner will feature Duckhorn Vineyard wines paired with New-South Cuisine in the relaxed elegance of Madison’s Restaurant. Crisp fall breezes and soothing sounds of rushing water will flow in from the Wine Garden through open windows. The wine and culinary teams at Madison’s will be in rare form as they display their passions to a captivated audience at this popular annual wine dinner. For a more intimate experience with a few close friends, you can request the private wine room that holds up to 12 people.

If there’s anything better than sharing wine, food, laughter and great conversation around a table, it’s sharing an entire weekend of it throughout a vibrant mountain town. Bad Boys, good wines, scrumptious food—Highlands plays host to them all. And the good reservations for Highlands Culinary Weekend are going early. So gather some friends and make plans now!