	Perennial Vintners	In this issue:
		▪ Vineyard - Pruning has begun
		▪ Cool climate grape growing class
		▪ Wine Country Cats 2011 calendar
Newsletter -- Jan-2011		▪ Public tasting Seattle next week
(Click here to view in HTML on website)		▪ FSHFriends auction
http://www.PerennialVintners.com/		▪ Business partner wanted

(Click on any image below to go to website with more information/larger image/etc.)

▪ Vineyard - Pruning has begun
The new year signals the beginning of grapevine pruning season. The vines are dormant until air temps reach (and stay most of the day) about 50F - typically mid-late-March. The problem is that these next 10 weeks are mostly awful to be outdoors -- cold, windy, rainy, soggy. But it's got to be done... In Jan I tend to work only on the days that are nice, or at least not bad. By Feb, I will probably decide that I haven't made enough progress and will start going out on the lousy days too. If you have a single backyard grapevine, or are considering having a commercial vineyard, or if you just like to be outdoors, you may want to consider helping me out in the vineyard -- you'll learn what wine is truly all about. If interested, reply to this email, and/or join our helpers email list.

▪ Cool climate grape growing class
And that leads in to another fantastic opportunity to learn what wine is really all about... My friend Steve Snyder of Hollywood Hill Vineyards does an annual cool climate grape growing and winemaking class. This year it's 19-Feb-2011 at his vineyard/winery in Woodinville. If you want to understand wine, this class is the best start you will get -- Steve makes excellent wines from both his own grapes and those purchased from eastern WA and his presentations are well thought out. More info at his website Hollywood Hill Vineyards, click on Events.

▪ Wine Country Cats 2011 calendar

Our winery cat Nigel is a star! Photographer Jackie Johnston came out to PV and took photos of Nigel. She has published a wonderful wall calendar for 2011, featuring Nigel on the front cover. Even better, he's also Mr. October! I know it's a bit late to be getting your calendars for this year, but maybe not too late... You can order it directly from their website:
http://www.cafepress.com/winecountrypics.484762700

▪ Public tasting Seattle next week
You may be aware of David LeClaire as an enthusiastic WA wine supporter in Seattle. Are you aware that he just opened a new wine shop? It's called Wine World Warehouse, it's on 45th just off I-5. They have a wine tasting seven days a week, 6pm-8pm -- as many as 10 (ten!) wineries may be pouring on a given day! I've signed up for next Wed. the 12th. For those of you who just can't make the time to come out and visit the vineyard on Bainbridge, this is your chance -- hope to see you there!

▪ FSHFriends Auction
FacioScapuloHumeral Dystrophy, or FSH, is a degenerative muscular disease, and is the most prevalent form of Muscular Dystrophy, yet there is no treatment or cure. Each year Mike Lempriere contributes several auction lots to the Friends of FSH research event, and of course Mike attends as well because it's great fun! This year Mikes donations include PV wines, overnight stay at Hotel Vintage Park, PV private tour/tasting, a year of website hosting (from Mike's other business Vintners.Net), and a bottle of 1982 (nineteen eighty two) Leonetti Cabernet from Mike's personal collection. (Note there were two of these bottles -- I opened the other with winemaker friends a few weeks ago and it was showing quite well for it's advanced age.) This year's event is 29-Jan-2011 at the Bellevue Hyatt Regency Ballroom. The event features wonderful live jazz music, fantastic food including the Dessert Frenzy, and more wonderful stuff than you've seen in one place since last years event! Please visit their website for more info and to get your tickets! Friends of FSH research click "Auction page".

▪ Business partner wanted
As mentioned in last months PV-Friends newsletter, the founders of Perennial Vintners, Mike and Beth have divorced. In the long run, there is great potential for Perennial Vintners to succeed, however the immediate short-term financial challenges may prevent Mike from reaching that milestone. Additional plantings made in 2008 will bring us significant additional income as of 2012, but we need help getting there. Additionally, we also have several projects lined up that will continue increasing income over the next decade, but these will require external investment to initiate.

If you would like to be a part of a real working vineyard and winery, the one that is the closest commercial vineyard to downtown Seattle, this is your chance! Simply reply to this email letting me know of your interest and we'll see what we can accomplish together.