NEPA’s Homegrown Wineries Celebrate a Proud Pennsylvania Tradition Nearly 350 Years in the Making

No matter where you go in Northeastern Pennsylvania, you’re never far from a local winery. All across the region, fertile mountainsides, sun-drenched valleys, and natural, stream-fed farmlands contribute to an ever-growing and strictly local wine scene. From NEPA’s southern coal country to the lush Pocono jungle to those rolling Endless Mountains, local wine is having its moment. And with the convenient DiscoverNEPA Wine Trail, we’re all about helping you join the party.

In general, Pennsylvania wines have come a long way. The industry has welcomed an impressive exponential growth over the past 15 to 20 years. In that time, local vintners and grape producers slowly, but surely gained ground on the region’s tricky geography and climate. Winemakers in the region are making waves among sommeliers with robust, complex reds and a simplified approach to whites. There is still a local appetite for fruit wines, and you’re sure to find them in abundance. And they, too, have turned a corner toward elegant and refined.

Rarely is quality perceived as the result of blind luck.

In this game, the grape is king. And, much like the apple — another NEPA signature — there are over 10,000 varieties. Each with its own temperament and sun, moisture and soil requirements. Therein lies the greatest challenge of Pennsylvania wine, and, perhaps, also its greatest accomplishment.

For generations, NEPA’s winemakers toiled away. They experimented with variety, aging and fermentation. Some earned their stripes through decades of experience. Some practiced with world renowned experts (or sent their children to do so). As a result, from vine to bottle, from glass to glass, NEPA’s local wines continually hold their own in both national and international competitions.

A wine for every palate.

Throughout the last few decades, as local vineyards and wineries popped up all over NEPA, so, too, did the wine tourist. And, like their craft beer counterparts, they’re willing to travel. Sure, plenty of NEPA’s restaurants proudly carry local wines, but there’s an inexplicable romance in drinking a vintage where its story began.

The DiscoverNEPA Wine Trail brings you closer to more of these incredible stories. We cover over 40 local vineyards, wineries and tasting rooms. It’s a long road. In all, it stretches over 500 scenic miles – surely not a single day’s endeavor. However, with your help and plenty of long weekends in between, we’re aiming to sip our way from one end to the other.

Hop in the car, clear those palates and hit the road on the DiscoverNEPA Wine Trail.

Sip your way through 22 unique wineries in NEPA’s expansive Valley Communities Region.

This section of the DiscoverNEPA Wine Trail covers 22 local wineries and nearly 330 miles of road. The route drops from the plains of the Endless Mountains into the historic, industrial corridor of the Wyoming Valley. From there, it winds its way through NEPA’s southern coal country. Along the way, you’ll stop in 21 unique towns and 4 expansive counties.

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Enjoy a little of that famous NEPA scenery at 23 wineries throughout the Pocono Mountains Region.

Immerse yourself in the dense forests of the Pocono Mountains along this portion of the trail. This route stretches from quaint Jim Thorpe in the south to the Delaware River in the east and north toward the famous Lake Region. It covers roughly 150 miles and 23 local wineries. All told, you’ll make stops in 12 charming Pocono towns throughout 5 counties.

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Plan a road trip to this group of iconic wineries in NEPA’s Endless Mountains Region.

Though the shortest of our trail’s offerings, this jaunt through the arresting scenery of the Endless Mountains inspires a bit of pioneering spirit. You’ll hit 4 wineries in 4 laid-back towns – across the gorgeous Wyoming and Susquehanna Counties. The road between spans about 70 photo-worthy miles at times dropping along the Susquehanna River.

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Article Updated from its Original Version Published on 11/04/2020.