Mechanization Systems for Vineyards

Over the last 20 years the Southwest region of the United States has seen an increased interest in viticulture.  Sizable vineyards have been planted in West Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona.  In a time when trained field labor is in short supply many growers look at mechanization to overcome the labor shortage.  The two most labor intensive tasks in a vineyard are winter pruning and harvest.  Mechanization of winter pruning has been pioneered over the last decade and still needs much improvement to be adopted widely.  Mechanical harvesting, in contrast to mechanical pruning, is now an accepted method.  The advantages of mechanical harvest in the dry hot southwestern desert climate outweigh any shortcomings.  The window to pick a particular grape variety may only be a few days.  With the shortage of labor, one harvest machine may be able to replace 30 to 40 workers.  However, the larger advantage for the winemaker using mechanically harvested fruit is the much cooler fruit.  Night harvested fruit might be 30 to 40 F* cooler than day harvested fruit thus suppressing much of the wild yeast fermentation activity before the harvested grapes arrive at the winery for processing.