Our Story

In 2008, in the spirit of good old fashion competition, Jim Wilford began creating wine at his home. His brother-in-law began making wine, and Jim hoped to surpass his brother in-law’s winemaking skills. Coming from a large Irish family where the competition was rampant, this behavior was not rare. And Jim wanted to make better wine. What began in the spirit of competition soon became a passionate hobby.

Jim began crafting full-bodied, unfiltered red wines, as well as a few flavorful whites. He used Bordeaux grapes as well as Tempranillo and Sangiovese to create delicious blends and single varietals. Jim perfected his craft by sourcing grapes from some of the finest vineyards in the Yakima and Walla Walla Valleys. He used French, Hungarian, and Virginia oak barrels to complete the aging process resulting in wines that exude quality and character.

When Jim maximized production out of his home, he moved the winery to its Coppertop Loop location. In 2018, a second location opened downtown on Winslow Way to better serve visitors and locals.

Fletcher Bay Winery is a unique boutique winery. Community and family are built into the fabric of our existence based entirely on how we came to be and how we continue to operate.

Owner/Founder/Winemaker/Retail Food

JIM WILFORD

Jim started this winery on his property on Fletcher Bay with his wife in 2008. The garage was production, and the guest cottage was the tasting room. The quaint cottage on the bay is now an Airbnb rental, and is frequently rented. Jim spent his High School and college years in South Carolina, a degree in business at Francis Marion University, and Geography at THE University of South Carolina. Jim is a self-taught winemaker except for a five-course wine certification from UC Davis. Jim's original career for 40+ years was a Municipal Bond trader at the Smith Tower in Seattle. Jim ran the winery as a side business for 13 years until retiring in 2021. Jim's wife Sharon is the School bus router and dispatcher for the Bainbridge Island School district.

Owner/Pourer

Sharon WILFORD

Do you remember Sharon signing you up for wine club, ringing the bell, and announcing you as the new member of the Fletcher Bay Wine Club family, followed by a cheer from everyone?

Sharon is Jim’s wife and co-owner of the winery. Until her recent sabbatical she had the weekend shift and developed a following at Island Vintners and then at the winery tasting room. In the early days of the winery she was the corker and labeler when all production was done out of the garage on Fletcher Bay. She would also accompany Jim on harvest grape runs, insisting on driving the big rental truck and an occasional stint on the forklift. Her love for driving big vehicles transferred to driving a school bus for the Bainbridge Island School District, and her current job as route designer and dispatcher for the school district. She still drives a bus when she needs to fill in for a driver.

Sharon grew up in Federal Way, WA. In high school she was the head waitress at the local Italian restaurant and did some modeling on the side. She went on to attend the University of Washington, where she graduated from the Foster School of Business with a degree in finance, and a minor in business law.

In 1989 Sharon and Jim met at Doc Maynard’s Bar located in Seattle’s Pioneer Square. They recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. Look for Sharon to join our fabulous pouring staff, and take a weekly weekend shift this summer, once she has received the COVID vaccine, and it is safe for her to come back out and play.