Hi Joel
Don't worry about the birds. I have been netting for over 5 years now and
have never had a bird tangled in the netting. I have been completely
covering the vines top, ends and sides. Occasionally a bird (or other
critter) will find a way underneath or elsewhere and have some difficulty
trying to find their way out but they eventually make it without getting
tangled. Snakes are another story. I have had two black snakes get tangled
in the netting. Fortunately a skunk found his way out last year.

There is a commercial grower near me who does not cover the top of his
vineyard. He merely hooks two approximately three foot wide panels together
at the bottom along the entire row where the trunks meets the cordons with
plastic "C" hooks and then fastens each side up on a trellis wire above.
This leaves the very top of the row open a few inches three feet up from the
trunk and cordon but he has not had any problem and claims the birds are two
dumb to find their way down through the canopy from the slight opening at
the top. I am going to try this technique next year. It makes for a lot
easier maintenance (hedging etc) and uses less netting.

I would think you can grow some good wine in Wisconsin. Look up information
on Frontenac grapes (both red and white varieties) and Traminette. I think
you might have success growing these varieties where you are located. I
live in Central Maryland and bought some Traminette grapes this year from a
commercial grower. The grape variety has Gewurtztraminer as one of its
parents and is a very delicious wine. The grower claimes it is a LOT less
problem to grow than a lot of the other white varieties and is also cold
hardy. I know there are some vineyards in Michigan that are starting to
growing it. I belive that the Frontenac was developed for growing in cold
climates such as Minnesota so you should be able to grow this as well.

Good luck with your wine growing.


"Joel R Anderson" > wrote in message
...
>I have been making wine for about 3+ years now, by using purchased grape
>juice or wild berries. I just finished bottling blackberry wine, with
>berries picked by my "dear old momma" (key Italian music in background). I
>am in Wisconsin, but I decided to plant 6 vines in the backyard. They have
>been in for about 3 years and I get plenty of grapes, but they never ripen
>due to the fact they get overwhelmed by birds (I literally got one
>...1!!!.... ripe grape this year).
> I want to put netting over the vines but my wife is afraid that the birds
> will get caught in it. Anyone have any experience in vines and protecting
> them? (And yes, I know the futility of trying to grow grapes in
> Wisconsin. But I am stubborn that way.)
>