We provide lunch when working a longer day, with food and wine. We especially love to enjoy a nice dinner in our home with our volunteers. You can see photos of some of our past volunteer crews in the Pages by Vintage section.

If interested in helping out, please subscribe to our PV-Helpers email list.

Here is a list to help you prepare for your work day at Perennial Vintners (or at any other western WA vineyard/winery). If you've got it, bring it...

Good vineyard outfit (full size image 411Kb .jpg) In this picture, Mike shows off excellent harvesting attire. photo credit: Mike Lempriere solo (timer) Notes from top down: Jacket has hood in case of rain. An alternate of a garden hat can also be useful if it's sunny. Dressed in layers: lightweight jacket removable in case it's not raining. Dressed in layers: warm wool shirt or sweatshirt under coat, removable in case it's warm. Old t-shirt. Belt hook pouch for cutters (optional for convenience, see below). Cutters (see below). Wool or Atlas type gloves (must be flexible so heavy leather may not work). Optional if your hands get cold easily. Sturdy jeans. You may be doing some kneeling. (In weedgrass, so it's not too hard, you probably won't need knee pads.) Hiking boots or other sturdy shoes. You'll be in moist weedgrass so you'll want to do better than tennies. Thick warm socks. I use normal socks with rag wool socks over them. (Optional.) Cat. (Optional.) (He came over to see what I was up to when the picture was taken.)

Harvesting cutters and pouches (full size image 405Kb .jpg) photo credit: Mike Lempriere Photo shows various garden cutters -- all are fine for harvesting. My favorite are the rightmost narrow-nose type with the belt pouch next to it. The blue handle anvil style are passable for most grapes, although some grapes have a very short bunch-stem (pedicel), thus the blunt nose makes it harder to get in without piercing grapes. (Gewurztraminer comes immediately to mind.)

Miscellaneous: Water bottle or two -- it's work, you may get thirsty. Old towel -- you may get a bit sticky and may wish to rinse your hands before getting into your car. Thermos with hot drink in case it's cold.

Winery work attire (full size image 432Kb .jpg) photo credit: Mike Lempriere solo (timer) Photo shows good winery work outfit. Notes: Light warm wool shirt or sweatshirt -- wineries are always kept cool (typically in the fifties). Old t-shirt. Sturdy jeans -- you may do some kneeling. Water tight boots -- there's sure to be some splashing. I highly recommend those shown "Muck" brand boots; they're warm, durable and soft inside. Thick warm socks. I use normal socks with rag wool socks over them. (Optional.) Note that the only real difference from vineyard attire is the change of boots. (Note cat not necessary!)

Pruning tools (full size image 413Kb .jpg) photo credit: Mike Lempriere Kneeler (full size image 452Kb .jpg) photo credit: Mike Lempriere For pruning work, you'll want the same attire as for harvest, except to consider colder temps. and more kneeling. Notes: The folding saw is ideal. The same style with a fixed handle may be useful, but is harder to carry with you. ** The large loppers at the bottom of the photo are too big to use -- no need for these. ** The small sharp-nosed cutters near the large loppers are too small for most uses -- no need for these. All the other cutters are fine and useful. I keep a pair for vineyard use (the red handled Felco) and a seperate one for yard use (smaller black-handled Corona). This folding kneeler is nice as it's easy to carry. There is also a solid molded plastic kneeler (favored by the folks at BIVW) which allows you to mount a pouch for holding tools.

Hedging tools (full size image 427Kb .jpg) photo credit: Mike Lempriere For hedging work, you'll want the same attire as for harvest, except to consider warmer temps. Notes: The upper wooden handled knives are ideal. They're made by Brushking, and are typically used for trimming of Christmas tree farms. I prefer the midlength handle (2 shown.) ** The large black handled machete is too heavy and dull to use for delicate grapevines -- no need for these.