Bainbridge Vineyards
by James Robinson, Your Co-op Sommelier
With Taste Washington Wine Month in full swing, there’s no better time to drink local and explore some of the best of our state’s viticulture.
At just barely an hour’s drive from the co-op lies Bainbridge Vineyards, a certified organic, B Corp certified, women owned and operated vineyard boasting innovative wines made with fruit grown on some of the state’s oldest grape vines.
The Bainbridge Vineyards story begins in 1977, when Gerard Bentryn, after living in Germany and falling in love with northern European, cool climate wines, founded the winery at the site of a historic Bainbridge berry farm. Recognizing the site’s potential for grape growing, Bentryn put about 8 acres of vines under cultivation. Despite the challenges of growing grapes in the Puget Sound American Viticultural Area AVA, Bentryn forged ahead and gradually became considered a pioneer in Western Washington viticulture. In fact, Bentryn was one of the chief architects and founders of the Puget Sound AVA, which was established in 1995.
Today, many of the original vines remain, and at 30 to 40 years old, are widely regarded as some of the oldest in the state. Varietals at Bainbridge Vineyards range from Pinot Gris to Müller Thürgau, Madeline Angevine, Siegrebbe and Pinot Noir.
In 2013, and after Bentryn’s retirement, the winery reopened under cooperative ownership with Betsey Wittick at the helm. Wittick began growing grapes and making wine with the Bentryns in 1989, and since then, has developed an intimate connection with the vineyard.
Under Wittick’s leadership, draft horses and organic practices form the cornerstone of the operation, and in 2014, Bainbridge Vineyards earned a USDA Organic Certification, followed by a B Corp certification in 2018. Bainbridge Vineyards is one of only a handful of wineries in the nation to boast both distinctions.
With just 1,200 cases made each year, Bainbridge Vineyards remains a small production winery focused exclusively on producing wines made from estate grown grapes. At the Port Townsend Food Co-op, we are pleased to offer the 2018 Müller- Thurgau, the 2019 Pinot Gris and the non-vintage Farmstead Red.
Bottle shots – courtesy of Bainbridge Vineyards
Müller-Thurgau 2018
From German origins, this wine is finished in dry style, the balance of crisp acidity and bright pineapple in this wine make it great for patio pounding or pairing with roasted pork and poultry, risotto, pastas with cream-based sauces or lightly spicy Asian dishes. Serve well-chilled.
Muller Thurgau 2017 on sale $18.99
Pinot Gris 2019
Nectarine and ripe Asian pear finish with delicate notes of sweet cream and salted lime. Four days of grape skin contact at the beginning of fermentation brought out a beautiful copper hue. Mellow tannins add complexity to this super quaffable sipper. Just 40 cases made.
Orange Pinot Gris 2019 on sale $26.99
Farmstead Red
Farmstead Red is a non-vintage, barrel-aged blend of 60 percent Regent and 40 percent Pinot Noir. The wine is garnet in color and has light mouth feel with surprising grip Tangerine zest, plum and cacao nib greet the nose while tart blackberry pie, rose hips and wild sage meet the palate. Lamb, beef, rustic Italian fare and herb roasted root vegetables pair nicely with this age-worthy wine.
Farmstead Red on sale $28.99
All sale prices good throughout March during the annual ‘Taste Washington Wine Month’
