Vineyard in Neustift, South Tyrol. Apparently they put these rose bushes at the ends of the rows of grape vines because they are more susceptible to certain diseases and insects and act a bit like canaries in coal mines.
From Le Blog IdealWine:
Despite their different appearances, vines and rosebushes have several things in common. A discovery many centuries ago led winemakers to use rosebushes as an early warning system. Roses and vines can be susceptible to the same diseases such as powdery mildew that can have disastrous effects on a winemaker’s crop. Roses are particularly sensitive to powdery mildew and are often the first plant to become infected. Rosebushes around the perimeter of a vineyard thus keep the winemaker alert to the infiltration of this terrible disease, taking the necessary action to save the crop before disease spreads.
Powdery mildew is one of the most devastating diseases for the vine and no vineyard in France is safe from an outbreak. Humidity helps the disease spread and one of the signs of an infected vine is white felting on the foliage and grapes…
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