Maple Park's Acquaviva Winery to open bed and breakfast on property

MAPLE PARK – Guests entering Acquaviva Winery in Maple Park might feel like they've stepped into Italy. Whether it's in the architecture, artwork or the smell of the family-style pizza being cooked in the wood-burning ovens, it certainly doesn't feel like Maple Park anymore.

Having opened just six years ago, owner Vito Brandonisio and his family are pleasantly surprised that Acquaviva Winery is as successful as it is today. What began as a one-winery location has turned into two successful restaurants and a soon-to-be bed and breakfast.

The Brandonisio family opened the Maple Park location in May 2010, named for the small vineyard Vito's grandfather owned in Acquaviva delle Fonti, Italy. In September 2014 they opened a second restaurant in Sycamore, called Ristorante di Acquaviva.

The eagerly anticipated bed and breakfast will soon open just to the west of the Maple Park winery, located at 47W614 Route 38, Maple Park.

The winery uses grapes grown from their own vineyard right across the street from the winery, which produces about a dozen different red and white wines.

"People are shocked that our wines are not blended with California grapes," General Manager Joe Brandonisio said. "We assure you, our wines are all from our Illinois hybrid grapes grown right across the street, on the south side of Route 38."

The 20-acre grape vineyard helps the winery produce 12 different wines – two being port style. Their head winemaker, Sergio Benavides, is in charge of the 23 varieties of grapes and the entire wine making process. There is also a five-acre apple orchard which they use to produce a dessert wine and do some special apple picking in the fall.

The grapes grown at the Acquaviva Winery are hybrid grapes and most varieties are developed for the changing Illinois climates. The winery staff works all year to make sure the vineyards are protected from the cold, humidity, Japanese beetles and birds.

"If you drive past the vineyards during the summer and see netting over the grapes, we are trying to keep the birds away from the grapes," Brandonisio said. "It's a lot of work and effort to have our own grapes in order to produce the best wine for our customers."

Acquaviva Winery has won the Illinois Governor's Cup Award three of the past four years for the best wines made from Illinois fruit.

The 20,000 square foot winery has a large tasting room where guests can enjoy six wines – all in one-ounce pours – for $6. Tours (with optional wine) allow guests to see the lower level of the building where the wine making and bottling takes place.

A signature tour with the head winemaker ends in the barreling room with a meat and cheese platter, wine tasting and a question-and-answer session. Customers also have an option to join the wine club for special discounts, tastings, tours, restaurant dining and VIP events.

The restaurant menu includes beef, pasta, seafood, pizza, paninis and more. The Maple Park venue also hosts many weddings and special events. They offer private and semi-private event rooms, whole facility rental and outdoor patio rental options for personal and business events.

"We hope that our guests not only come for the great food and wine, but they take the time to walk around and enjoy the grounds," Brandonisio said. "We have acres of beautifully maintained land on the north side of the restaurant that guests can enjoy. It's a hidden gem that we're quite proud of."

If you go:

Acquaviva Winery

Where: 47W614 Route 38, Maple Park

When: Restaurant hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; Noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. The wine market is open from noon to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.

Cost/Info: Call 630-365-0333 for the restaurant and 630-365-0222 for the wine market. Visit www.acquavivawinery.com for more information.