Unlike the great wine-producing areas of upstate New York, the Poconos region lacks extensive large bodies of water that help regulate the temperature of the surrounding countryside and prevent early frosts. However, the proximity of Poconos wineries within the limited grape-growing region works to the advantage of wine aficionados, who can visit all area operations in a single day. Each winery sells its own products and offers free tastings. In fall, usually in September or October, Poconos wineries host special festivals to coincide with their annual harvests. These often include lunch, winetasting and some grape crushing.
Many participants return the next year to purchase a bottle of the wine they helped make.
Call the individual wineries for details on their planned events, as specific events and schedules vary from year to year. More than 20 Pennsylvania wineries participate. See our Annual Events and Festivals chapter for details. A rundown of wineries in the Poconos region follows. But before we look at each vineyard individually, we d like to congratulate the local heroes who garnered honors at the 1996 Pennsylvania Commercial Wine Competition.