Wine and Dine on the Mountain will kick off the 2010 culinary season in Highlands, NC, April 30 through May 2, by pulling together a sizzling line-up of fine wines, superb food and fine art.

The “Wine and Dine on the Mountain” weekend is a sensory extravaganza that begins with a “Blue Jeans, Bluegrass Spring Harvest Barn Dinner” at the Farm at Old Edwards on Friday. A Chilean Portfolio of Agustin Heneeus of Quintessa will be on the tables throughout the dinner. On Saturday, Wolfgang’s Restaurant and Wine Bistro will host Quintessa’s California Expressions 4-course wine dinner starting at 7pm. On Sunday from 11:30 am to 3 pm, a Live Jazz brunch at Madison’s Restaurant will top off the weekend.

Guests of all events will watch the wines come to life, as Thomas Arvid paints for the occasions. And Charles Thomas, Director Vineyards and Winemaking of Quintessa, will be present to share his knowledge and passion for wine. Thomas joined the Quintessa team as winemaker in June 2007. He has a storied career with some of the most highly regarded wineries in the industry including Robert Mondavi Winery, Domaine Chandon, Cardinale and Rudd.

Named one of the top "25 Artists You Should Know" by US Art magazine, Thomas Arvid receives critical acclaim for his monumental compositions of wine and his mastery of light, depth and reflection. Inspired by the grace and hospitality of the southern culture in which he lives, Arvid’s compositions are an invitation to take the time to appreciate sharing a great bottle and good conversation with friends.

“I can’t think of a better place to spend an evening with great friends,” says Arvid. “Highlands and events like this – with wonderful food, wine and culture – truly foster camaraderie, similar to what I try to evoke in each of my paintings. I’ll have my easel with me; it’s going to be another inspiring weekend in the mountains.”

Throughout the weekend, guests will enjoy art, music and wine-inclusive culinary —including:
• Blue Jeans, Bluegrass and Spring Harvest Barn Dinner, The Farm at Old Edwards with Thomas Arvid painting live and featuring the Chilean Portfolio of Quintesssa’s Agustin Huneeus
• Quintessa’s California Expressions Wine Dinner Saturday at Wolfgang’s with Thomas Arvid painting live and featuring live music
• Jazz, Wine, Art and Brunch at Madison’s Sunday featuring Illumination by Quintessa, Flowers Vineyard and Winery Perennial. Wines included in brunch price.
• Special Vinatherapy (wine-grape) treatments at The Spa at Old Edwards

“Last year’s event really set the bar for a fun weekend of wine and food,” says Richard Delany, President of the Old Edwards Inn and Spa. “We’re looking forward this year to offering an even a more diverse assortment of experiences, all tied together with great wine, food and music.”

Wolfgang Green, owner of Wolfgang’s Restaurant and Wine Bistro, says, “We’ve always had great success with our wine weekends, and last year’s Thomas Arvid event was no exception. By partnering with other businesses like the Old Edwards Inn and Spa, we can pull together offerings to celebrate spring by bringing guests to Highlands for some art, music, superb wine and fine dining—an unbeatable combination!”

Space is limited. To reserve today, call 866-526-8008. For more information, visit www.oldedwardsinn.com.

- Photos Available -

About Old Edwards Hospitality Group: (www.oldedwardsinn.com) Recently honored with the 2010 TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice Award (top ten in the US) Old Edwards Inn and Spa welcomes visitors to North Carolina’s high country with its unique blend of relaxed luxury recognized worldwide. A spectacular outdoor heated mineral pool, world class spa, award-winning dining, and golfing at the private Old Edwards Club are signature experiences at this full-service mountain resort. Guests are surrounded by the warmth and character of Old-Europe architecture and authentic period antiques. Many rooms, cottages and suites offer private patios or terraces—some with captivating rooftop views of Main Street and downtown Highlands. All of the luxury accommodations include champagne arrival, twice-daily housekeeping, two 24-hour business centers and two 24-hour Butler’s pantries with Dove Bars, fresh fruit and soft beverages. European bedding, fine Italian linens, plush robes & slippers, rainfall showers, heated-tile bathroom floors, in-room safes and Wi-Fi enhance the in-room experience. Edwards Inn and Spa also boasts a state-of-the art fitness center with wellness classes that include guided hikes into the scenic surrounding mountains known as “waterfall country.”

Guests enjoy onsite shopping at the Spa Boutique, Acorn’s Boutique or Acorn’s Annex featuring fine antiques and home accessories. Dining venues include Madison ’s Restaurant and Wine Garden serving innovative New South Cuisine, The Rib Shack and Sports Corner, the Spa Café and the Poolside Bar and Bistro. Special events and weddings take place at The Farm—a lushly landscaped Old Edwards property located one mile from downtown Highlands featuring The Barn, the Farmhouse with luxury lodging, Bridal Pavilion, Bridal Bridge over a scenic pond and outdoor events pavilion. The Old Edwards Executive Conference Center provides a catered corporate retreat venue.

Also introduced in 2009 was Satulah, Old Edwards Private Residences, which includes 14 luxury mountain homes just two blocks of Main Street, Highlands. The Forbes Four-Star, AAA Four-Diamond resort is located at 445 Main Street in Highlands, NC. Madison’s Restaurant and Wine Garden has won the Wine Spectator “Award of Excellence” every year since 2005 and the “Best Of” award in 2008 and 2009.

About Wolfgang’s Restaurant and Wine Bistro: (www.wolfgangs.net) Located at 474 Main Street in Highlands, NC, Wolfgang’s is celebrating its 16th Season. The Wine Spectator awarded restaurant offers a broad range of items, from Bavarian to New Orleans specialties. Wolfgang’s has been a Wine Spectator “Award of Excellence” restaurant since 1998 and “Best of Award” since 2004. The restaurant has been featured in Southern Living, Southern Accents, WNC Magazine, Our State, Outside Magazine and Talk Greenville. Owner and Chef Wolfgang was the executive chef of Commanders Palace for the Brennan Family. The Bistro offers small plates from 4pm and the Restaurant serves a broad range of items from steaks to fresh seafood with touches from New Orleans to Bavaria.

About Thomas Arvid: (www.thomasarvid.com) At the intersection of fine art, fine food and fine living, Arvid has become synonymous with the wine lifestyle. Today, Arvid and his wife, Vanessa, head Thomas Arvid Fine Art, Inc. one of the most successful boutique art publishing companies in the country, and he has been recognized by USA Today, NY Times, LA Times, and Wine Spectator and featured on TV programs from San Francisco to Boston. With his iconic portrayals of the wine experience in over 50 exclusive galleries in North America and a five year wait for his original works, Arvid has revived the everyday appreciation of wine by capturing the beauty and essence of easy living.

About Quintessa: (www.quintessa.com) Agustin Huneeus has been discovering great vineyards of the world throughout a career spanning five decades and 15 countries. In addition to owning the Quintessa estate the renowned Rutherford District of Napa Valley, his current vineyard and winery projects include Faust Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Illumination Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc, Veramonte winery in Chile’s Casablanca and Colchagua Valleys, and Washington’s Longshadows Vintners where he is a partner. In 2009, the Huneeus family forged a partnership with Joan and Walt Flowers of Flowers Vineyards & Winery, pioneering vintners who in 1989, established two extraordinary vineyards dedicated to world-class Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the extreme Sonoma Coast.