AI and Technology Revolutionize Winemaking Methods
By Stav Dimitropoulos and Will Smale
Business reporters
Kara Maraden, the director of viticulture at Foley Family Farms, a leading US wine firm, demonstrates how artificial intelligence (AI) technology has revolutionized the way vineyards are managed. With over 5,200 acres of vineyards in California and Oregon to oversee, Maraden utilizes AI and remote sensing to monitor the water requirements of individual vineyards with just a few clicks on her laptop.
Previously, the task of assessing water requirements would have relied on human judgments and calculations. However, with the help of Tule Technologies’ sensors, III powered by AI algorithms, Maraden can now retrieve real-time data on moisture levels, temperatures, and wind speeds from individual vineyards, even when she is miles away. Tule Technologies has developed sensor technology placed discreetly across the vineyards, which captures essential data to make accurate moisture evaporation calculations under varied environmental conditions.
According to Maraden, the use of AI and data analytics in decision-making has resulted in improved grape quality and consistency across the vineyards. Sensors and AI applications by Tule Technologies, Cisco, Ceres Imaging, and Bloomfield AI are ensuring precision monitoring and overcoming labor shortages in vineyards.
AI Contribution to Winemaking Process
AI adoption is not restricted to the vineyards; it has found its way into the wineries as well. California-based firm Tastry has introduced AI algorithms designed to analyze a wine’s chemical composition and compare it with a vast database of 248 million US wine drinkers’ taste preferences. This technology assists winemakers in blending wines to achieve specific taste profiles that are favored by a larger consumer base.
Tom Shapland, CEO of Tule, emphasizes the valuable 24/7 surveillance that AI provides to the vineyards. Alexandre Remy, the managing partner and winemaker at Atlas Wine Company, considers AI as his personal “GPS system” assisting him to balance numerous base wines and recommending blend ratios to appeal to different target demographics.
Monika Christmann, a professor of enology at Hochschule Geisenheim University in Germany, affirms that wineries requiring consistent results may benefit most from AI adoption. However, she raises a cautionary note that the unpredictable interaction between different wine components still remains beyond the purview of AI.
While AI and technology have their ardent advocates, purists argue that winemaking is an art that should rely on the subtleties and human expertise of winemakers. They claim that no algorithm can fully comprehend the interaction of climate, soil, and grape varieties that create a wine’s unique character. Nevertheless, AI proponents like Maraden reinforce that AI is simply a tool that empowers winemakers to make more informed decisions based on scientific analysis and data.
Whether AI fully revolutionizes the winemaking industry or remains just an augmenting tool, wineries and winemakers are utilizing technology to their advantage and harnessing its potential to refine their craft.
