Eileen Slovak

On a visit to a vineyard in France, I asked a burning question. Why do vintners plant roses at the end of the rows of grape vines?

I always thought it was because they look so pretty!

The answer is that roses and grape vines share a similar temperament. The roses help signal potential issues for the vines. They are similarly affected by pests, mildew, weather and all of the challenges growers face when tending their vines.

Roses are like a natural alarm system for issues like powdery mildew. They will also show earlier signs of vulnerabilities that affect the vines, since both thrive in similar climates.

In short, healthy roses are a sign of healthy vines.

Although today, vineyards use weather and disease sensors, planting roses is more about keeping a centuries old tradition.

I for one am thankful for the traditions of winemakers. Aren’t you?

Thanks for reading and feel free to comment!