About the Field Days

In partnership with Wine Victoria and supported by Wine Australia’s Regional Program, we held two field days in the Yarra Valley & King Valley, focusing on ‘Smart Strategies for Sustainable Profits’. Over 140 growers and viticulture professionals attended the events, with the Yarra Valley field day selling out tickets.

The events featured demonstrations and presentations on the latest technologies, automations and viticulture strategies to improve efficiencies and profitability in the vineyard. The MC for the day was Mick Griffith, our Viticulturist here at Wine Network, who also led a panel discussion with the presenters on the practicality and application of these strategies and innovations.

Program

Session 1
Topic: How vineyard automation and new technology can save you time and money

Presented by:
Dr David Jordan – Viticulture Scientist, Vine to Wine to Market

Dr David Jordan will be presenting on how automation and new technology can help improve your vineyard operations, saving you time and money. DJ will discuss recent advancements that have been trialed in New Zealand and how they can apply in our regions.

Session 2
Topic: Demonstration – Agricultural drones for spraying, mapping and diagnostics
Now a cost-effective option and practical asset for vineyards.

Presented by:
Falcon UAV – Vine health monitoring and targeted nutrition programs, as well as a bird scaring drone.

Droneland Australia – Vineyard spraying/spreading and vineyard mapping with drones (Yarra Valley only).

AviAg Drone Services – Drone spraying techniques and logistics, as well as variable rate fertiliser application (King Valley only).

Session 3
Topic: Flip your thinking – what can you remove to grow smarter for the future. Improve efficiencies and reduce costs using sustainable viticulture.

Presented by: Richard Leask – Viticulturist, Leask Agri

Richard Leask, is a Nuffield scholar and a well-regarded expert in regenerative farming. In today’s challenging climate, profitability requires more than just cutting costs — it demands a strategic rethink of how we grow. This session will explore the power of a removal approach in thinking across your vineyard operations: What tasks, inputs, or processes can be stripped back or eliminated entirely — not just to save money, but to unlock efficiency, improve quality, and sustainability practices? Challenge assumptions, identify hidden drains on your business, and reframe “less” as a pathway to growing smarter.

Session 4
Topic: Case Study & Tasting – Trial of autonomous UV-C light vehicle

Presented by: Ben Thomson – Managing Director & Vineyard Manager, Best’s Great Western and Andy Clarke, Wine Australia

Ben Thomson from Best’s Wines will be discussing the trial of the system which uses a non-chemical, autonomous method for controlling powdery mildew, using UV-C light. Ben will also be bringing two wines for tasting, looking at a conventionally sprayed block compared to a UVEX trial block, along with sample analysis of both.

This is the first commercial trial of the UVEX system in an Australian vineyard, which is co-funded by Wine Australia, Agriculture Victoria, and Agri Automation Australia. Andy Clarke, Wine Australia’s AgTech Program Manager, will be presenting on the technology of the system, how it works and future plans, alongside operational footage that demonstrates its unique capabilities.

Session 5
Topic: Panel discussion – Mick Griffith, Viticulturist at Wine Network Consulting, will lead a discussion on the focus topic of the day, smart strategies for sustainable profit, with the expert panel of presenters.

Dr David Jordan; Richard Leask; Ben Thomson; and Andy Clarke