Nets On

It’s business time in the vineyard.  The grapes are ripening, the birds are keen, so it’s all hands on deck to get nets on.  As usual, LEGO® Grower and the contractors are flat out.

Veraison (ripening) is a key stage in a grapevine’s life.  The vine transforms from creating energy (photsynthesis) to using this energy to ripen the berries. During veraison, sugar increases, acid decreases and the colour changes: red varieties change from green to red and white varieties change from a dark green to a lighter green/yellow.  Basically, the berries transition from little, hard, acidic nuggets, to larger, soft, luscious bundles of deliciousness!    

Once veraison starts, nets go on to stop the birds eating the grapes. LEGO® Grower uses over the row nets (one large net goes over 4 rows – like a big canopy) and side nets (bands of net, along each side of the row, covering the fruit zone).  Picture this: LEGO®  Grower, on the tractor, slowly chugging down the row, rear-mounted net winder slowly unwinds the large reels of net (around 100kg each), a contractor on each side walking behind the tractor guiding the net over the rows to the ground.  Once nets are on, the contractors mend any holes and clip nets around the posts and each vine – using plastic clips like the ones supermarkets use to close their bread bags - to stop the nets blowing off and the birds sneaking in. 

Add to the mix: it’s very hot and dry so daily irrigation and pump checks in every block. Lots of walking.  Any water issues in these conditions would be a disaster.  

It’s business time - harvest is just around the corner.