Picturesque rows of vines and trellises blanket Acquaviva Winery's 85-acre estate. But this idyllic outdoor setting is hardly the only draw. In fact, it may even be overshadowed by the elegant edifice standing nearby. That would be Acquaviva's tasting room, full service restaurant, and marketplace. This structure, is the hand painted work of their artist Andrew Zabela, features the rich color palette and complexity associated with the high Renaissance. Domed ceilings display elaborate, gold-painted plaster filigrees, which, in turn, frame Zabela's hand-painted murals.

The elaborateness of the decor actually stands in stark contrast to the simplicity of the wines. "We have a minimal intervention approach to our process," says wine maker Sergio Benavides, "permitting our terroir, grapes, and vines to speak for themselves." He manages every acre of the vineyards, coaxing flavor from 23 different varieties of grapes. His care and tending pay off: virtually every bottle of wine the vineyard produces, from the Bianco Bello to the Frontenac, boasts multiple awards and notes of robust self-esteem.