Ah, to bask in the Tuscany sun, to sip Italian wine while eating authentic cheeses and crunchy peasant bread, taking the time to enjoy the view that stretches out for miles around you.

Where are we? Only about an hour away, depending upon your starting point, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, high above Rock Castle Gorge. There, Susanne Becker and Stephen Haskell, after a great deal of research, decided to attempt their successful recreation of their much-loved Tuscany.

The Patrick County vineyard was planted in 1988.

Becker is a much-published researcher in the area of air pollution and has worked for the EPA. Haskill formerly was a professor of obstetrics, gynecology, immunology at the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center in Chapel Hill, N.C.

The two became interested in developing the vineyard after a sojourn to northern California wine country. Their trek led them down a new path of vintners of Italian-inspired wines here in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, where they are already winning awards for efforts at Villa Appalaccia.

Their “Francesco” Cabernet Franc 2000, 100 percent Cabernet Franc, aged in new and 1-year-old French and American Oak Barrels, won a Gold Medal, Best of Virginia, Governor’s Cup.

Villa Appalaccia sits high above Rock Castle Gorge, near Floyd. It is a small, family-operated farm winery where Stephen maintains 15 acres of vineyard, growing Italian white varietals Pinot Grigio, Malvasia Blanca, Trebbiano and Vidal blanc, and the red varietals Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese, Primitivo and Corvino.

Their wine list boasts that Susanne takes the grapes and produces wines that are “great accompaniments to Mediterranean and Asian-Southwestern-California fusion cuisine.”

Several scheduled events in the summer and fall concentrate on Italian or Thai foods.

In the spirit of their passionate dedication to lovely wines and good food, Stephen and Susanne often host events in their open courtyard, the Garden, an easy walk down the flagstone path from the Tuscan-style country farm villa. Performers include classical guitarists, folk singers, and cellists. On a recent weekend, three musicians from Radford University entertained at a fund-raiser for the school’s music program.

Future plans at Villa Appalaccia include planting a grove of olive trees; already, a row of young trees, established in enormous pots, are thriving alongside the flagstone pathway.

Villa Appalaccia Winery is at 752 Rock Castle Gorge, Floyd, VA 24091; telephone number is 540-593-3100 and web address, www.villaappalaccia.com. Villa Appalaccia is 1 mile north of Chateau Morrisette winery and 5 miles north of Mabry Mill.