Wander along vineyards in the Montecucco or Brunello region and you will find fragrant roses nodding in the breeze at the end of the lines of grape vines. Roses and vines have been grown together for centuries, and it is still he desire of the Tuscan vintners to maintain the tradition of keeping roses in the vineyards.
Roses and vines have been grown together for centuries as they have much in common. The rose acts as the sentinel of the vine as they are both susceptible to the same diseases. Roses and grapevines are both susceptible to the fungus powdery mildew. In fact, roses are more sensitive than grapevines. Sulfur won’t cure powdery mildew, but it can prevent it. So, if a grape grower noticed that one day his roses had powdery mildew, he knew it was immediately time to spray sulfur on his grapes to prevent them from getting the same disease. [2]