Verse & Vine Brings Books, Wine, and Community to Downtown Poulsbo
Jul 15, 2026, 7:50 AM
Sound Sound
Originally published on South Sound.
Book lovers looking for a cozy place to unwind officially have a new destination in downtown Poulsbo with the opening of Verse & Vine earlier this month.
The business is an independent romance bookstore and wine bar that pairs a curated selection of romance novels with wine by the glass (or flight), craft beer, cider, tea, mocktails, and artisan charcuterie.
The idea for the shop was sparked when mother-and-daughter duo and lifelong residents of Kitsap County, Jaci Bryant and Carmen Garringer, visited a romance bookstore elsewhere and witnessed the community that had grown around it.
“Everyone was welcoming, eager to share recommendations, and excited to talk about the books they were reading,” Garringer said. “I had wanted to open a bookstore for years, and after experiencing a space like that firsthand, my mom was excited to bring the idea to life together.”
The pair opened Verse & Vine to create a similar gathering place in Kitsap County, one where visitors can browse for their next favorite book and meet fellow readers.
And, as Garringer put it, “adding wine into the mix was the cherry on top.”
