By
John VerPlanck and Jennifer Laskey VerPLanck,
Black Sheep Wine Shop, Harpswell,Maine
Black Sheep Wine Shop, Harpswell,Maine
Many years ago, when I was in college, I
rode up to Russian River with a friend whose family lived there. As we passed
by a well- known vineyard, I noticed all kinds of “stuff” growing between the
vines and thought it poor agricultural practice. As with so much of my vast
knowledge at that age, I was wrong.
While some vineyard managers prefer bare
ground in the strip between vineyard rows, many seek symbiotic plants that
benefit the overall health of the vines, the soil and the quality of the
grapes. Particular diverse perennial or annual native grasses, herbs, flowers
and legumes grown as cover crops are an important tool for the viticulturist.
If timed right, the plants can improve or reduce vine growth, control nitrogen
and soil fertility and suppress problem weeds like thistle. Cereal rye, fescue,
barley and crimson clover add nitrogen to the soil. Mustard and chicory are
natural pesticides.
In
addition, these plants increase water retention and help decrease soil erosion.
In new vineyard blocks, the cover crop may be left to help with erosion over
the winter. In others, come autumn, they are plowed under, adding organic
matter to the earth in the vineyard.
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Some cover crop plants encourage bees, which
cross pollinate the vines. Flowering plants that provide pollen or nectar
attract beneficial insects that contribute to the eco- system by feeding on the
“bad “insects. Predatory insects like indigenous ladybugs, small wasps, some
beetles, lacewings and some spiders are vineyard friends. Flowering plants that
are common in vineyards are: alyssum, caraway, dill, bronze fennel, sunflowers,
yarrow, thyme, tansy, Queen Ann’s lace, buckwheat, phacelia, cosmos,
coneflower, chamomile, vetch and blanket flower.
Rose bushes at the ends of rows are not only
attractive, and attract beneficial insects, but will act as an early warning if
powdery mildew is present. Choke cherry bushes along the edge of the vineyard
provide shelter for and divert birds who prefer the sour fruit to the sweeter
grapes.
Sometimes special plantings yield
unexpected results. In Italy’s Marche region, Pecorino vines were planted as a
buffer to lure insects away from other, more important grape vines. But it was
found, over time, that the Pecorino grapes produced a very enjoyable white
wine, thought by many to be preferable to the protected grapes.
While these practices are not available to
large commercial vineyard operations who must strive for maximum yields and use
mechanical harvesters and chemical herbicides, they enable the smaller
viticulturists to make high quality wine without the reliance on harmful
chemicals. Instead of wiping out pests or problem plants, the smart growers learn
to manage them and work with nature. So keep an open mind when you see what
look like weeds and wildflowers left in a vineyard, they’re at work!
