MAPLE PARK — Karen Schmitt enjoys the fact she doesn't have to venture far from her Sycamore home in order to drink high-quality wine.

Schmitt was recently dining at Acquaviva Winery at 47W614 Illinois 38 in Maple Park, with friends during her sister-in-law's retirement party.

"Obviously the wine is the draw," she said. "It's a very special place. We don't have a lot of this so local."

Although Acquaviva Winery is located in Kane County, it is in Maple Park, a village that has a portion in DeKalb County. The winery has about 25 employees. Vito Brandonisio has owned the winery for four years and is exploring possibilities of expanding into DeKalb County, including in Sycamore.

Acquaviva produces about 55,000 bottles of wine a year. All of the grapes at Acquaviva are grown on site and hand-picked by employees, Brandonisio said. The grapes, which are American hybrids and come from vines as old as 13 years, are then pressed and the juice is fermented to create alcohol. It is then bottled and packaged. Acquaviva's wines range in price from $16 to $25.

According to Acquaviva's website, three wines have won a gold award in the Illinois Wine Competition in Champaign, and three wines have also won a silver award in the International Wine Competition in Finger Lakes, New York.

"Comments are made by the thousands that the wines we produce here are the finest in the Midwest," Brandonisio said.

Statistics by the DeKalb County Convention and Visitors Bureau show wineries are one of the most popular searches tourists make. Debbie Armstrong, executive director of the bureau, said her Google Analytics statistics put wineries as the second most popular thing people search for attractions, behind only to dining.

"We know people are looking for wineries when they travel," Armstrong said.

Acquaviva is not the only option for local wine. Prairie State Winery at 217 W. Main St. in Genoa, is also a short drive away and has a location at 322 West State Street in Sycamore. There's also Waterman Winery and Vineyards at 11582 Waterman Road, Waterman.

Waterman Winery, which has received a DeKalb County Soil and Water Conservation Award and an Illinois Governor's Sustainability Award, has 12 acres of grapes and 40 varieties such as French/American hybrid grapes. Some grapevines are more than 10 years old, said co-owner Alexa Tuntland.

Waterman Winery has been open since 2003 and produces about 8,000 to 10,000 bottles of wine a year. Waterman Winery is actually located on a farm that also grows soybeans and corn, something others were leery of because farmers use chemicals in corn and soybeans could have affected the grapes, said co-owner Terrie Tuntland.

"We wanted to be the first ones to do it," he said. "The goal was to produce grapes and make good wine for DeKalb County."

Rick Mamoser, winemaker and Prairie State Winery co-owner, said his business has a regional reputation as an experience-based winery.

Prairie State has been in business for 15 years and plans to move across the street in mid-June, Mamoser said.

"There are a variety of reasons for people to come out and experience the whole idea of a winery," Mamoser said. "Attracting people to DeKalb County for us is showing them what a winery is about: enjoying the whole experience."

Acquaviva plans to add more experiences for its customers, too. In June, they plan to open a bed and breakfast on the property of their Maple Park location.

Acquaviva Winery manager Erin Novotny said business has evolved since she started in July 2010. Nowadays, Acquaviva Winery has become a venue for weddings and parties, she said.

People come from as far as Georgia, Iowa and even California to sample the wines, she said.

"We provide Maple Park a tourist spot," Novotny said. "People come here because of us. Sometimes, people want to see the small town. We point them in the direction."

Oswego resident Stephanie Wennmacher recently was enjoyed a small meal and wine with her friends.

Wennmacher, who hadn't had the opportunity yet to explore other destinations Maple Park and the surrounding areas have to offer, said Acquaviva Winery is an unexpected place in the middle of a rural area.

"It certainly stands out from the landscape," she said. "It's a nice place to sit and have a glass of wine or nice meal."