A long dining table in the underground room at Blue Ridge Estate Winery in Saylorsburg, PA

[ Poconos / Things to Do ]

The Underground Experience at Blue Ridge Estate Winery

Are you into wine? How about wine paired with a little inspiration—14 feet below the surface of the earth?

If that sounds interesting, you may want to check out The Underground Experience at Blue Ridge Estate Winery in Saylorsburg, PA, located in Monroe County, about an hour from Milford.

We went on a Saturday afternoon this past winter and had such a great time. The underground room itself is beautiful, but what really makes the experience memorable is the winery's owner, Randy. He leads the experience and is filled with an infectious enthusiasm and genuine joy for life. It's definitely more than just a wine tasting.

A chandelier in the dining room at Blue Ridge Estate Winery in Saylorsburg, PA

During the experience, we tasted five of Blue Ridge's wines—and I have to admit, I had no idea there was a vineyard in Saylorsburg!

A flight of wines at the Underground Experience at Blue Ridge Estate Winery

One of the most interesting parts was tasting two red wines that, if I remember correctly, were called Above and Underground. They started as the same wine but were aged very differently. One was stored traditionally above ground, while the other was buried underground out in the vineyard for several months.

The result? Two completely different tasting wines.

I believe Randy said the underground barrels are buried in the fall and unearthed around July 4th—or possibly the other way around! Either way, hearing about the process and then being able to taste the difference side by side was one of my favorite parts of the experience.

The winery itself is also worth visiting. There are several outdoor decks overlooking the vineyard, and although we visited during the winter, I can imagine how nice it would be to sit outside with a glass of wine when the weather is warm.

A long dining table in the underground room at Blue Ridge Estate Winery

So, if you're looking for something a little different to do in the Poconos, Blue Ridge Estate Winery is definitely worth adding to your list.

And if The Underground Experience sounds like your kind of afternoon, check the Blue Ridge Estate Winery website for current dates, times, and details before you go.

Planning an afternoon out?

Looking for more local ideas? Browse our Things to Do section, or explore the Milford area and Warwick area guides for trails, farms, and weekend plans in both regions.