One of the oldest wineries in the country is just a short drive from the shore. It's almost as if you've ventured into vineyards from the Italian countryside.

"We're giving them the old world here," Renault Winery owner Joseph Milza said.

But the Renault Winery is in Galloway Township in rural southern New Jersey.

Milza's family has owned it since 1977 but Renault traces its roots back 144 years. It boasts the distinction of being the oldest continuously operated vineyard in the nation.

"We grow 14 different varieties of grapes," Milza said.

From those grapes come 23 varieties of wine. Take a tour or even a taste, and you'll see the process of picking, pressing and aging from beginning to end.

"It's really nice. I really enjoyed the tour. And the tasting was real good. Got a sample of everything," Dorothy Gerving, of Glen Ullin, N.D., said.

The winery is about a 20-minute drive from the Atlantic City area beaches and the people there said a coastal climate and sandy soil really do wonders for growing grapes.

"It's a perfect area for it. We get ocean breezes. It's a mild area," Milza said.

Spread out over 1,500 acres you'll find a hotel, restaurants, even a golf course there. But make no mistake the star attraction is still the wine.

"We love it and I hope everyone else does too," Milza said.