Presenters at the field days. Image courtesy Wine Victoria
More than 140 growers and industry professionals gathered this week in the Yarra Valley and King Valley for Wine Victoria’s latest field days, focused on exploring smart strategies for sustainable profits. Delivered in partnership with Wine Network Consulting, the events spotlighted cutting-edge technologies and viticultural strategies designed to improve efficiency, reduce input costs, and boost sustainability across vineyard operations.
“We love running these field days—it’s so important to bring the industry together and support day-to-day decision making with the latest productivity innovations,” said Stephanie Duboudin, CEO of Wine Victoria. “It was fantastic to see the Yarra Valley event sell out ahead of time, which shows just how strong the demand is for insights in this space.”
Mark O’Callaghan, managing director at Wine Network Consulting, emphasised the importance of exploring viable solutions with real-world applications.
“These events are about translating innovation into practical outcomes for growers, especially during challenging times when every decision counts,” said O’Callaghan.
A live drone demonstration at the field days. Footage courtesy Wine Victoria
Smart vineyard solutions in action
Viticultural scientist Dr David Jordan shared how automation and technology—successfully trialled in New Zealand—can streamline vineyard operations and reduce labour costs. Live drone demonstrations highlighted cost-effective applications for vine health, mapping, spraying, and even bird control, with presentations from Falcon UAV, Droneland Australia, and AviAg Drone Services.
Nuffield Scholar Richard Leask urged growers to rethink inputs and consider what tasks or resources could be removed to drive smarter, more sustainable growth. His regenerative approach focused on boosting both profitability and environmental outcomes.
Ben Thomson of Best’s Wines and Andy Clarke of Wine Australia presented Australia’s first commercial trial of an autonomous UV-C light vehicle to control powdery mildew without chemicals. Supported by Wine Australia, Agriculture Victoria, and Agri Automation Australia, the trial compared treated and untreated blocks, with tastings and data underscoring the technology’s potential.
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