The Tech-Savvy Vineyard
How Innovation is Shaping Sonoma's Wine Industry
Imagine sipping your favorite glass of wine, knowing it comes from the heart of California's wine country, Sonoma County. This picturesque region, with its rolling vineyards and family-owned farms, is where tradition meets innovation.
With around one million acres of land, 60,000 of which are dedicated to wine grapes, Sonoma is home to 1,800 grape growers. They produce over 100 different wine grape varieties, including favorites like Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Chardonnay.
But behind every bottle of wine lies a story of hard work and challenges for the growers. From high compliance costs in California to labor issues, these farmers are constantly seeking ways to make their operations more efficient and sustainable. That's where John Deere’s advanced technology steps in.
Our farmers are incredibly hungry for innovation. Wine grapes are a fickle crop, and they’re extremely time-sensitive because that ultimately affects the quality, and quality is taste. And taste is everything. John Deere has helped us address those challenges.
Pilot Program with Big Results
Back in 2024, we partnered with the Sonoma County Winegrowers to introduce some high-tech solutions to the vineyards. Take Smart Apply®, for instance. This technology uses LIDAR (light detection and ranging) to sense each grapevine and adjust spray volumes based on the density of the foliage. This precision not only reduces the amount of spray material used by nearly 30%, but it also supports the growers' sustainability efforts.
Karissa Kruse, President and CEO of Sonoma County Winegrowers, shared her excitement about the collaboration, stating, "Our farmers are incredibly hungry for innovation. Wine grapes are a fickle crop, and they’re extremely time-sensitive because that ultimately affects the quality, and quality is taste. And taste is everything. John Deere has helped us address those challenges.”
Sonoma County Winegrowers' Savings with Smart Apply®1
Nearly 28% of chemical and water use reduction, equating to
nearly 38,000 gallons of crop protection and water savings on
2,700 total applied acres.
1Savings is provided based on results of Sonoma County Winegrowers 2024 usage of Smart Apply® technology compared to traditional crop protection chemicals and water usage. Results will vary.
Learning Together
The pilot program, which involved six farm operations, has shown some great results. Sean Sundberg, business integration manager at John Deere, shared his thoughts on the role of data in modern farming: "We're learning right alongside the growers. We're teaching our farmers, and the next generation, to use data as a handy tool so they don't always have to be out in the vineyard. We're getting data 24/7, and it's making a big difference!"
The impact of technology goes beyond just reducing spray. It also lowers labor costs and boosts efficiency. As Kruse pointed out, "What might seem like a small piece of innovation has a significant trickle-down effect. Imagine what an employee can achieve if they're not spending time on the tractor, refilling spray. Or consider the possibilities when you cut your spray costs by a third. Where else can you invest those savings?"
