The WinePen enables users to obtain instant readings of the sugar content, acidity and other key characteristics of individual grapes. It is part of an information management system that compiles the readings from the tested vines into a map detailing the status of the various zones of the vineyard.

By helping winegrowers to determine where the pickers should head first and which patches would benefit from a few more sunny days, this system allows them to boost the quality and the value of their produce – potentially generating higher income in the process.

Winegrowers do not rely solely on their sense of taste to assess their crops, as they require precise information on the composition of the grapes. Ripeness is usually evaluated by means of laboratory analysis, which covers a variety of important parameters. Another common approach involves on-site sampling using a combination of instruments.

The new device developed by PREMIVM leaves the grape bunches intact, dispensing with the need to pick and crush samples for analysis. It provides the results in real time, eliminating the time lag currently required to obtain this crucial information. And it does so inexpensively, or should do as soon as the product is available to customers.

At the moment, the WinePen remains a prototype. But, says Luís Miguel Fernandes of Agri-Ciência, the project coordinator, the partners are planning the next steps for the development of a commercial prototype with a view to bringing this innovative solution to the market.

Harvesting in a new light

The new device is based on an optical sensor and designed for use directly in the vineyard. “The measurement principle is based on the natural response of vegetal species to light, where specific molecules are excited at a certain wavelength and emit light of a different wavelength,” says Fernandes, explaining how readings are taken by placing the hollow tip of the WinePen over individual grapes.

The sensor records how the relevant molecules inside the berry are affected by exposure to light and sends the information to a computer, where it is fed into the application. The application then processes the data to assess a number of key characteristics, such as the grape’s sugar content and acidity. The grapes selected for testing do not need to be removed from the plant and are not damaged by the process.

The grapes in a vineyard do not all ripen at the same rate, so it is important to take readings from a number of vines in key locations. Measurements taken with the WinePen are tagged by GPS and can therefore be compiled into precise maps documenting the status of the plants.

“This way,” says Fernandes, “you can see which zones of the vineyard are ready to collect. The others you can leave a few more days. Then, you take another reading and you upload the data into the platform, which will tell you within seconds if the remaining grapes are ready to harvest. So it’s like a micro-managed field.”

The ability to pinpoint precisely when grapes need to be harvested to achieve the highest levels of quality enables producers to increase the value of their crop. The PREMIVM system can also inform decisions about grape variety and terroir combinations. It should be of interest to winegrowing businesses across Europe, many of which are small or medium-sized enterprises.

A handpicked team

The PREMIVM project involved nine partners in six countries — three winegrowers, three research institutes, and three small to medium-sized enterprises contributing technical expertise. Following the end of the project in September 2013, the consortium members are currently upgrading their prototype to ensure that it is easy to handle for users. They are also looking into ways to commercialise the WinePen with the associated software at a reasonable price.

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