I'm really, really pleased to announce that Perennial Vintners wines are now at Whole Foods!  I now have a lot of respect for any business whose products are at Whole Foods, it's been a lot of work getting there!  At this writing we're only in the Bellevue store, but we have interest from other branches and are hoping to expand in time for Valentines Day in the new year.  If you shop at a Whole Foods store, please consider suggesting to the wine steward that you'd be interested in seeing them carry Perennial Vintners wines.  Of course if you're at the Bellevue store, please buy some so they'll want to keep stocking us!

As mentioned above, Perennial Vintners wines are now available on the east side of the lake, in Bellevue.  I'm hoping to get into the Whole Foods Redmond store as well - if you're in that neighborhood, be sure to ask Bruce (the wine steward there) to consider carrying Perennial Vintners wines!

If you're interested in learning about winemaking, this is something you may want to see.  It is not an easy job with small scale equipment, and is completely non-obvious.  If you're thinking of serious winemaking, you will benefit from this.  Reply to this email if you're interested and let me know your schedule - as I have several days of work to do, I can probably work one to have you join me.

As mentioned in last month's newsletter, we're currently focused on planting.  I've finished all the Zweigelt, and am now working on fill-ins for failed plants in the main blocks.  I have 60 Siegerrebe to do, and am about halfway through 24 Melon de Bourgogne.  If you're interested in coming out and working in the vineyard on one of these fantastic sunny afternoons (I was out today in just a T-shirt, it's really that nice when you're working), reply to this email or if last minute call/txt 206-200-5902.

The weather has done what we needed (a good freeze), so the vineyard is now ready for pruning to begin.  I'm planning to keep on planting 'til that's done, but if anyone is interested in starting pruning, I can take a day and do that instead.  This is a job I can use all the help I can get, and if you want to learn about growing grapes, this is the most important job you can learn about.  You might wish to consider joining our pv-helpers email list to be notified of these opportunities.

We're also planning to take down some trees allowing us to expand the vineyard.  There will be plenty of work clearing brush and bucking up firewood.  Perhaps we could trade some labor for firewood...  After that we'll have to amend the soil and put in plants - this will be a big project, so again consider joining the pv-helpers email list for announcements about these opportunities.

Now that you've got your new iPhone 6...  Do you use the earbuds that came with it?  If you've visited the winery you've probably seen me with earbuds hanging from my shirt.  I use these when I'm working in the vineyard, working in the winery, just working at the computer - most all the time.  With this much use they always eventually fall apart - especially now that I'm entering the cold, wet vineyard work season.  I'll give you $5 cash, or $10 off any wine purchase for your unused iPhone earbuds.  I'd be willing to bet that your old iPhone 5 box is still sitting with it's earbuds unused too...  I'll take 'em!  (Has to be iPhone - from iPhone 3 onwards - iPad, iPod, Nano won't work as they do not have the microphone.)  You can swing by the winery with them, or just drop them in a padded envelope and mail them to me and I'll send you $5 for each, plus your mailing costs.