Digital Multi-Spectral Imaging (DMSI) reduces variability

10 October, 2008

The 2008 vintage presented the viticulturist and winemaker with unwelcome, and in many cases, unexpected variety in both yield and grape quality.  This created a number of problems downstream particularly with handling the large unexpected volume.  However, was any of this predictable, and if so what tools could have been used to help prepare for the issues that the 2008 vintage raised?

If tools were available to identify variability and these had been used, would this have helped viticulturists and wineries to prepare their blocks and their facilities to cope with the season?  The use of such tools would, in turn, have reduced the risks that were apparent in the vintage of 2008 and better enabled the industry to take full advantage of what truly was a very good harvest in terms of volume.

Digital Multi-Spectral Imaging (DMSI) is one key tool  that would have been of enormous benefit to help mitigate some of the issues that not only the 2008 vintage created, but that other vintages serve up to the grape grower.  Whilst not the panacea of answers it certainly provides valuable information and is being used extensively in Australia, France and Spain to help increase consistency and predictability in the vineyard.

Firstly, a quick summary of the technology and what it can provide.

DMSI is the production of high quality imagery from specialised cameras that measure the light penetration of plant cells.  This technology is used to provide detailed analysis of canopy density, Brix levels and a number of other plant-related factors.  Variation in the canopy can help identify and calculate areas of variation in the vineyard.  This enables monitoring to be carried out by viticulturists and winemakers to assess quality parameters.  The effects of irrigation, nutrients and/or disease can be highlighted very clearly with the precision of DMSI.  Poor vine growth can also be easily identified to allow inputs such as fertiliser, irrigation or organic mulch to be applied.

So, armed with this technology the viticulturist is able to clearly identify the variation in the vineyard as it evolves across the season and manage it accordingly.  An application of this technology was used on a block where the grower  was wanting to ascertain the causes of variation across the block in order to lift yield, obtain greater consistency whilst obviously  maintaining quality.

This data was analysed by an experienced viticulturist and a number of issues became evident.   Irrigation failures, plant nutrition deficiencies and vine stress issues due to inadequate water were identified – these issues were not obvious at ground level.  This enabled remedial action in exactly the right places to correct the problems and as a result  there is now  greater  consistency in volume and quality across the entire block.

Wine companies in Australia are also using this technology to help estimate yields.  To date the work has been very promising with reports of yield estimates (using DMSI technology as a tool) to guide sampling and calculations that are within 10-15% of the actual yields.

From the work  undertaken  in New Zealand and overseas, the evidence is clear that DMSI can be an invaluable tool to help  better predict and  manage variability in a vineyard.

The use of DMSI technology through a season and between seasons will provide greater information that will lead to tangible gains and improvements to the bottom line of entity using it.  The 2008 season should have highlighted that it’s all about smarter management of your resources, through more accurate information and turning data into knowledge - precision viticulture at its best.