In the renowned Moselle wine region of western Germany, researchers are testing an advanced vineyard technology that could significantly reduce the need for manual labour during grape harvesting.
According to Suedwestrundfunk news, “QualiSelect” is being developed to automatically detect and sort diseased grapes, aiming to improve wine quality while addressing rising labour shortages and costs in the European wine industry.
Precision agriculture
The Moselle Valley is one of Germany’s most famous wine-producing areas, known globally for its steep vineyards and high-quality Riesling wines.
It is here, in a vineyard near the village of Graach in Rhineland-Palatinate’s Bernkastel-Wittlich district, that one of the first field trials of the new technology is underway.
Developed by the Rural Services Center (DLR) in Bernkastel-Kues in partnership with the University of Trier and the Julius Kuehn Institute, the technology is designed to eventually be integrated into automated grape harvesters.
“The system will decide in real time which grapes should be harvested and which should be avoided,” explained viticulture engineer Christopher Hermes from the DLR.
Detecting vine diseases in real time
The sensor technology, developed by Premosys GmbH of Kalenborn-Scheuern in the Vulkaneifel region, uses light and colour analysis to detect signs of disease and stress in vines.
Innovation manager Sarah Lentz highlighted that the system can identify the fungal disease Esca, which causes leaf discolouration and negatively affects grape quality.
While drones are already used by some winemakers to spot vineyard problems from the air, QualiSelect scans each vine individually, offering a far higher level of precision.
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A response to labour shortages
Currently, sorting out diseased grapes is done by hand, requiring large numbers of seasonal workers, many of whom come from Eastern Europe or North Africa to support harvests across the European Union.
However, winemakers are finding it increasingly difficult to secure labour due to rising costs and stricter labour laws.
Automating this step would allow wineries, particularly small and mid-sized operations, to reduce their dependence on temporary workers and manage costs more efficiently.
Long road to commercial use
Despite the promising field trials, commercial availability is still several years away.
The QualiSelect project began in 2024 and is scheduled to run until the end of 2027.
A first prototype, likely a grape harvester with integrated sensors, is expected by then, but full-scale deployment could take longer.
Both researchers and winemakers are optimistic that the technology will bring long-term benefits not just to German viticulture, but potentially to wine regions across Europe, North America and beyond.
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