Grape Vine Netting Guide: Essential Tips for Protecting Your Winery 

Introduction

For winemakers, ensuring the health of your grapevines is paramount. Grape vine netting is not just an accessory; it’s a crucial tool in protecting your vineyard from a host of threats, ranging from bird damage to weather-related risks. These threats can significantly reduce yield and negatively impact grape quality, affecting both the quantity and the flavor profile of the wine.

Whether you’re managing a small boutique vineyard or a larger winery, understanding how to utilize netting effectively can significantly improve your yield and wine quality. 

This guide will help you choose the best grapevine nets for your winery.

Why Grape Vine Netting is Crucial for Your Vineyard 

Grape vine netting, also known as vineyard netting, plays a vital role in safeguarding your vineyard. It protects your grapes from birds, insects, and harsh weather conditions. Without proper protection, these factors—such as birds, insects, and harsh weather—can significantly reduce your yield and impact the quality of your wine.

By using netting, you ensure that your grapes reach optimal ripeness, free from damage, leading to a successful harvest and high-quality wine.

Additionally, using specialized photoselected nets, such as red vineyard netting, can enhance the aromatic profile of your wine by influencing grape skin exposure to light, which boosts phenolic compounds and contributes to richer wine flavors.

3 Types of Vineyard Netting Available

Choosing the right grape vine netting depends on various factors, such as your vineyard’s size (e.g., small boutique vineyard or large commercial operation), the local wildlife threats (e.g., birds or deer), and your overall budget.

Here are the most common 3 types of vineyard netting:

Vineyard Drape Netting

Also known as vineyard over row netting, this type of netting is installed directly over one to three rows of grapevines, depending on the vineyard’s setup. It provides effective protection from birds and hail while allowing sunlight to penetrate, which is crucial for grape development as it ensures proper sugar accumulation and optimal ripening.

Applying and removing it may require careful handling to avoid tangling with leaves and vines. Using specialized tools, such as netting applicators, can help minimize these issues and make the process smoother.

However, the benefits of comprehensive coverage often outweigh these challenges, particularly for vineyards seeking reliable seasonal protection.

In the United States, the vineyard drape net is a traditionally used netting. Depending on its width, it covers one or multiple rows of grapevines.

Vineyard Side Netting

Also called vineyard zone netting, this type covers both sides of a single row of vines, providing comprehensive protection against birds while allowing easy access for maintenance. By focusing specifically on the fruiting zone, it ensures the most vulnerable parts of the vine are well-protected. By covering two sides, it provides targeted protection where it is needed most, making it easier to apply and remove, saving up to 30% of labor time compared to traditional netting methods. This netting type is primarily used along the sides of the vines to protect against bird damage.

Vineyard side netting is gaining popularity, especially in regions like Australia and New Zealand, thanks to its straightforward installation process and the ability to leave it in place year-round, which helps reduce labor costs by up to 25%.

Vineyard Overhead Netting

Also called vineyard canopy, Overhead netting covers the entire vineyard, providing protection from birds, insects, and adverse weather like hail.

At Sun Valley Vineyard, overhead netting reduced bird damage by 50% and minimized hail damage, resulting in higher yields.

This type of netting is ideal for vineyards in regions with severe weather, offering complete coverage and minimizing crop loss. It also allows easy access underneath for maintenance tasks like mowing and harvesting, saving time and reducing labor costs. Overhead netting is durable and can last for many years with minimal maintenance, making it a worthwhile long-term investment.

While the initial installation can be costly due to the need for permanent supports, the long-term savings—such as up to 40% on maintenance costs over 5 to 10 years—often justify the investment, especially for vineyards seeking reliable, year-round protection.

Selecting the appropriate netting is crucial to ensuring that your grapes are shielded from damage, resulting in increased yields of up to 30%, reduced losses by 40%, and ultimately higher profitability for your vineyard.

See your vineyard flourish—each grape ripening to perfection, safeguarded by the best netting solution tailored to your needs. With the right netting in place, you can focus on what truly matters: reducing labor efforts, maximizing grape quality, producing exceptional wine, and growing your business with confidence. 

Related stories

At Green Valley Winery in Southern Australia, the vineyard manager, John, faced significant bird damage every year, losing nearly 45% of his harvest to persistent flocks.

In 2022, John decided to invest in high-quality bird netting from EyouAgro. By the end of the season, he saw a remarkable 40% reduction in bird damage, which led to a 25% increase in harvest yield.

The extra grapes allowed John to produce 20% more wine, and the boosted profits helped him reinvest in better equipment for his vineyard, leading to an increase in efficiency by 15%.

Real-life experiences like John’s highlight the tangible benefits of using effective netting solutions, making it easier for others to trust and follow this advice.

Take the first step in safeguarding your vineyard and experience the benefits for yourself by investing in quality netting today. 

5 Key Benefits of Grape Vine Netting

Grape vine netting offers numerous advantages to vineyard owners, providing effective protection and improving overall vineyard management.

Below are some of the key benefits:

Protection from Birds

Birds are particularly attracted to grapes during veraison, when the fruit starts to accumulate sugar and color. Netting provides a reliable barrier, preventing birds from damaging the crop at this critical stage.

Protection from Pests and Insects

Netting serves as an effective barrier not only against birds but also against insects and other pests that can damage grape crops. This helps maintain both the quality and quantity of the yield, providing essential protection during critical growth periods.

Additionally, netting can help limit the access of bees, minimizing the risk of grape splitting without disrupting pollination efforts early in the season.

Chemical-Free Solution

Unlike chemical deterrents or noise-based methods, netting offers a physical barrier that keeps pests out without introducing harmful substances into the environment. This makes it a sustainable choice for vineyards aiming for eco-friendly practices.

Cost Efficiency

Although the initial cost of installation might be high, netting can lead to substantial savings by reducing losses due to pest damage over time, making it a cost-effective solution in the long run.

Labor Efficiency

Once installed, netting helps save labor time during the growing and harvest seasons by minimizing the need for constant monitoring and intervention to protect against bird damage.

Overall, grape vine netting is an essential investment for vineyard owners seeking to protect their crops, improve yield quality, and adopt sustainable practices.

How to Choose the Right Netting for Your Winery

Choosing the right vineyard netting is crucial for protecting your vines, improving yield, and ensuring high-quality wine.
When selecting vineyard netting, consider the following factors to ensure the best choice for your vineyard’s specific needs:

Installation Type

The type of installation—drape, side, or overhead netting—should match your budget, labor capacity, and the level of protection you need. Below is a brief comparison of each type to help you decide:

Drape netting is economical but may require more frequent adjustments, while overhead netting offers comprehensive protection at a higher cost. Side netting, on the other hand, is easier to handle and provides targeted protection for the fruiting zone.

Material Quality

Opt for netting made from UV-resistant materials that can endure prolonged exposure to sunlight and other environmental elements. UV-resistance is crucial as it directly affects the lifespan of the netting, ensuring year-round protection and longevity over multiple growing seasons.

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is a widely recommended material because of its durability, ensuring the netting remains effective over multiple growing seasons. Compared to other materials like polypropylene, HDPE offers superior UV resistance and tensile strength, making it more reliable for long-term vineyard use.

Color and Sunlight Needs

The color of the netting regulates sunlight exposure for your grapes, which is crucial for photosynthesis and proper grape development, ultimately affecting sugar levels and flavor complexity in the wine.

• Light-colored netting, such as white or clear, allows for more sunlight penetration, which is beneficial in cooler climates.

• In contrast, darker netting provides additional shade, which can be helpful in hot climates where excessive sunlight might harm grape development.

Mesh Type & Size

The size of the netting’s mesh openings is crucial for balancing protection and growth.
Selecting the right mesh size depends on the specific threats to your vineyard:

Anti Bird damage

For vineyards dealing with bird damage, diamond mesh with a size of 15x15mm is recommended. Compared to other mesh types like square or triangle mesh, diamond mesh provides superior strength and coverage, making it particularly effective against bird damage while still maintaining good airflow and light penetration.

This mesh size effectively keeps out larger birds like starlings and sparrows, ensuring that the grapes remain protected from bird pecking while still allowing ample sunlight and air circulation. Diamond mesh is particularly popular because its structure adds durability and strength, making it suitable for long-term use in areas with high bird pressure.

This durability leads to cost savings over time, as the mesh can withstand multiple growing seasons, reducing the need for frequent replacements and providing a more economical choice for vineyard owners.

Additionally, diamond mesh can be opened and expanded to cover widths of 20-24 meters, reducing the number of nettings required and thereby cutting down on installation labor and time, which is particularly beneficial for larger vineyard setups that need extensive coverage with minimal effort.

Anti-bee or Japanese beetles

For vineyards facing issues with smaller pests like bees or Japanese beetles, both rectangle and triangle mesh can be used:

• Rectangle Mesh: Provides good protection and is effective for moderate insect pressure, offering a balance between cost and pest control.

• Triangle Mesh: Recommended for its thicker monofilaments and greater robustness, which improve wear resistance and pest prevention. Triangle mesh (size 2×8/2mm) has twice the tensile strength of rectangle mesh, making it more durable and reliable.
  This increased strength reduces the need for replacements and lowers maintenance costs.
  Triangle mesh is particularly effective during the ripening period, preventing pests while maintaining airflow to avoid fungal growth and support grape health.

Overall, triangle mesh is the preferred choice for vineyard owners who prioritize both pest control and long-term durability.

Installation and Removal

Installing and removing netting can be labor-intensive, especially in large vineyards, but using specialized tools can save up to 50% of labor time.

Using specialized tools, such as net applicators like the NetMaster Pro, can simplify the process and reduce labor costs by up to 50%, providing an effective solution for large vineyards. This efficiency is crucial for timely deployment and removal of netting. It ensures vineyard operations continue smoothly without disruption.

Wildlife Safety

Ensuring that nets are properly secured above the ground helps minimize risks to local wildlife, such as birds and small mammals, which are commonly at risk of entanglement.

Additionally, the color of the netting can influence insect behavior, which may impact grape quality.

For instance, light-colored nets can deter certain insects, while darker nets can also help maintain grape health by reducing excessive sunlight exposure.

These factors, when carefully considered, can help you select the most effective netting solution for your winery. Balancing protection, cost, and ease of use ensures a successful harvest.

6 Installation Tips for Effective Vineyard Protection

Proper installation is key to maximizing the effectiveness of grape vine netting.
To get the most out of it, consider these practical installation tips:

Seasonal Timing

Timing is crucial; installing netting too early can lead to unnecessary maintenance costs, while installing it too late may result in increased pest damage and missed protection during critical growth stages.
The ideal time to install netting is after pollination but before grapes begin to ripen.

Proper timing ensures that your grapes are well-protected during their most vulnerable stage, maximizing yield and quality.

Proper Installation Techniques

Securing the netting properly is vital to prevent it from becoming a hazard for wildlife. Loose netting can create safety issues, so it should be kept off the ground and fastened securely at both ends to prevent entanglement and ensure maximum effectiveness.

Bird Behavior Awareness

Understanding local bird activity is key to deciding on the best netting strategy. For instance, removing bird nests in early spring can help reduce bird activity, making your netting more effective.

Net Tension

Avoid stretching the netting too tightly, as this can enlarge holes and allow birds to get through. Instead, drape the netting loosely over the vines to ensure proper coverage without creating gaps that birds could exploit.

Maintenance Practices

Regular vineyard maintenance, such as spraying for pests or nutrients, should continue even after installing netting. The netting does not block spray droplets, so you can still provide the necessary care for your grapevines without interruption.

Vineyard Netting Accessories

In addition to the primary netting types, utilizing the right accessories can greatly enhance the effectiveness and convenience of vineyard netting.

Below are some commonly used vineyard netting accessories:

To summarize, properly installing grape vine netting is crucial for maximizing its benefits. Maintaining it effectively ensures your grapes are well-protected from various threats.

Top 10 Vineyard Netting Suppliers

When considering vineyard netting for your needs, it’s essential to look into reliable suppliers or retailers, such as those with industry certifications, positive customer reviews, or many years of experience.

Whether you’re seeking suppliers of vineyard netting like EyouAgro or NetPro, vineyard netting retailers such as AgriSupply, or exploring options to buy vineyard netting online through platforms like Alibaba or Amazon.

Here’s the list of Top 10 vineyard netting supplier in the world.

Purchasing from reputable suppliers ensures you get durable and effective products that can protect your vineyard for multiple seasons.

Look for features like UV resistance, high-quality materials such as HDPE, and reinforced stitching, which contribute to the netting’s durability and effectiveness.

Selection according to the color of the grapevine netting

The most common colors are black and white net, but green and red are also available.

The choice of netting color should take into account the growth habits of the grape plant, as well as the surrounding environment. A light-colored net should be chosen if you want the grapevine to receive more sunlight. If you want more shade, then a dark-colored net would be better.

Colored nets have an impact on the yield and quality

The color of the grapevine cloth will also affect the quality of the grapes to some extent.

The various colors of the nets have different spectral screening effects.

Using the different color netting, defined spectral bands of solar radiation are selectively screened out while transforming direct light into scattered or diffuse light. Spectral manipulation specifically promotes desired physiological responses. At the same time, the light scattering improves the penetration of the spectrally modified light into the inner plant canopy, thus increasing the efficiency of light-dependent processes.

Several traits respond to photoselective signals, including fruit set, harvest time, yield, size, color, and internal and external quality.

A study has been carried out on three colors (pearl white, red, and black) of grape nets. In addition to improving microclimate conditions, three nets reduced grape sugar and alcohol content. It was found that the red and pearl nets significantly enhanced the aroma and taste of wine compared to the black net. 

Colored nets Reduce bacterial and fungal pathogens

The colors themselves also affect birds or insects. Yellow, for example, has an attractive effect on insects, while red causes them to fear and leave.

These nets have also been shown to block bacterial and fungal pathogens through anti-insect.

By preventing insects from entering the net, the possibility of insects carrying bacteria and fungi infecting the vines is reduced.

5FAQs About Grape Vine Netting 

Below is a list of common questions that vineyard owners have about grape vine netting, covering topics such as durability, installation timing, and the benefits of different types of netting. 

How long does vineyard netting typically last?

Vineyard netting, when made from high-quality materials like UV stabilizers polyethylene, typically lasts between 5 to 10 years. Proper care and maintenance can extend its lifespan, ensuring effective protection for multiple growing seasons.
Proper care and maintenance can extend its lifespan, ensuring effective protection for multiple growing seasons.

How does vineyard netting impact grape quality and yield?

Vineyard netting significantly improves grape quality and yield by reducing damage from birds, insects, and harsh weather. By providing a physical barrier, netting ensures that grapes can ripen undisturbed, leading to a higher yield with better quality fruit.

What is the best time of year to install vineyard netting?

The ideal time to install vineyard netting is after pollination but before the grapes begin to ripen.

In the Northern Hemisphere, this typically means late spring to early summer, while in the Southern Hemisphere, it is usually late autumn to early winter. This timing helps protect the grapes during their most vulnerable period.

In the Southern Hemisphere, it is usually late autumn to early winter. This timing helps protect the grapes during their most vulnerable period.

What are the benefits of using multi-row drapes over single-row drapes?

Multi-row drapes are more efficient for large vineyards, as they cover several rows at once, reducing labor and installation time compared to single-row drapes. They also create a continuous protective barrier, enhancing the overall effectiveness of pest prevention. They also create a continuous protective barrier, which can enhance the overall effectiveness of pest prevention.

What are the common issues faced when removing vineyard netting?

One of the common challenges in removing vineyard netting is entanglement with vine leaves and branches, which can cause tears or damage. Using proper techniques and tools, like netting applicators, can help minimize these issues and ensure a smoother removal process.

Conclusion

Grape vine netting is a valuable tool for vineyard owners, offering essential protection against pests, birds, and adverse weather while contributing to healthier grapes and higher yields. By choosing the right type of netting, using effective accessories, and following proper installation techniques, you can optimize the health and productivity of your vineyard.

Ready to protect your vineyard with the best grape vine netting? Contact EyouAgro today for customized solutions that match your winery’s unique needs.