There’s something special about the Pocono Mountains…the way the air feels, the way time slows down, and for one couple, it’s the place where a dream became a way of life. Over twenty years ago, Randy and Linda Rice stood on an empty plot of land with a simple idea: grow grapes, make wine, and build something meaningful from the ground up. What they’ve created is far more than just a winery, it’s a labor of love that has grown, evolved, and welcomed guests for decades. Welcome to Mountain View Vineyard, now a 100-acre family-owned farm, winery, brewery, and distillery. Everything you see was built by hand, powered by hard work, passion, and an unshakable belief in their vision.

It all started with a little faith and a dream. They planted their first vines by hand, tended the soil, and learned the land. As their vineyard grew, so did their aspirations: first the wine, then the brewery, followed by the distillery. Randy’s ideas never stopped, and Linda was there by his side, every step of the way. As Randy puts it, they’ve simply followed what they believe is God’s vision for their lives, letting it blossom into something new and exciting at every turn. They’ve never looked back, choosing instead to jump in wholeheartedly and trust that everything they need will fall into place.

When it came time to expand, they took a leap and built a kitchen, not just to serve food, but to share their love of fresh, flavorful dishes, sometimes made with ingredients from their own garden just across the street when in season. It was one of the best decisions they ever made. Linda recalls how few wineries and breweries offered food back then, guests love being able to enjoy a meal and a drink all in one place.

Harvest season is one of their favorite times of year, a moment when everything comes to fruition. In the early days, they invited the community to help pick grapes, celebrating afterward with a party. But as the vineyard expanded, so did the workload. What used to take one day soon stretched into four weeks. So, they invested in a harvesting machine, which brought that timeline down to just four days. From starting with small equipment and doing everything by hand, to making annual upgrades that make their production smoother and their team’s job easier, the Rices have always reinvested in both their business and the people who support it.

Still, even with all the growth, Linda says they never imagined it would evolve into what it is today. What started as a mom-and-pop operation has become something much bigger, and more beautiful than they ever expected. Even now, they look around and feel humbled by what they’ve built, grateful and a little in awe. “We still feel like we have to pinch ourselves,” Linda says, “not in a vain way, but in an appreciative, thankful way.”

Whether it’s your first visit or your fiftieth, Mountain View Vineyard isn’t just a stop, it’s a story, and every guest becomes part of it. You’re not just visiting a winery; you’re stepping into a dream that became real, one vine, one bottle, one moment at a time!