For several months, my neighbor Judy had been suggesting to her husband, Preston, and me that we should visit this Italian Renaissance-style winery on the Wisconsin shore of Lake Pepin. We’re neighbors whose sons were (and still are) best friends, regularly visiting each other’s houses and playing soccer (and video games) together growing up.

As we became empty nesters, Preston and Judy and my wife, Gretta, and I learned we shared a passion for good food and wine, so we met regularly in our houses and also once a year in Newport Beach, California, to enjoy this passion together.