Meet Gerard & JoAnn Bentryn

Welcome to Bainbridge Island Vineyards & Wines

Gerrard and JoAnn Bentryn have been growing grapes and making great wines on Bainbridge Island for 28 years. They have apprenticed at vineyards and wineries in Europe, Australia, South Africa, the US East Coast and California. They have combined this passion for making fine wines with their commitment to preserving farmland and sustainable communities. Bainbridge Island Vineyards is a rare breed. They are one of only three wineries in the Puget Sound region that actually grow and process their grapes on site!

Products Available

                       Pumpkins                   Salmon Safe Certified Wines

Growing Philosophy

"Being connected to farmland is important for people, communities, and our society. This is what we believe.  It's why we sold part of our land and all development rights to the City of Bainbridge Island for far less than we could have realized from developers. We wanted to keep this land in farming after we are gone."

-- Gerrard Bentryn

A Collaborative and Balanced Effort

Bainbridge Island Vineyards is comprised of 24 acres in a wonderfully bucolic setting. The vineyard only comprises a part of the land, with the remainder shared by five small growers of berries, vegetables, and pumpkins, along with plenty of trees, shrub borders, and two small ponds. This wonderful community asset provides products for local markets and helps to power the local economy as a draw for off-island visitors coming to visit the winery and vineyards.

Caring for the Soil and Water

The Bentryns maintain a comletely insecticide-free vineyard, having taken advantage of the fact that their vineyard is far removed from larger grape growing regions which would introduce the challenge of pest control.  Though they spray wettable organic sulfur for fungus control, they have started experimenting with a synthetic fungicide which is derived from mushroom antagonist chemistry by synthesizing a natural compound.  They believe this low-impact solution requires less use of their tractor, thus cutting down on exhaust and fuel consumption.

Bainbridge Island Vineyards plants in soils that are at least four feet deep which enables them to only use drip irrigation during the first year of planting because the soils are able to retain enough water in subsequent years.  The other farmers who share their land use drip irrigation from the land's water retention ponds. This wise stewardship of water resources helped them to become the first winery in Washington State to be certified as Salmon Safe.

A Great Spot for Birders

Bainbridge Island Vineyards is a "sleeper" when it comes to viewing birdlife. Their ponds attract birds of prey, widgeon, and other migratory birds, including the odd flock of Sandhill Cranes. The Bentryn’s have worked with the local Audubon Society to install more than 20 nesting boxes for song birds and wood ducks. They have also introduced Western Painted turtles to one of their ponds.