Kara Maraden, the director of viticulture at Foley Family Farms, is revolutionizing the wine industry with the use of AI technology to monitor the water needs of her vast vineyards spanning across California and Oregon.
With over 5,200 acres of vines under her care, Maraden relies on AI-powered sensors from Tule Technologies to remotely assess the moisture levels, temperatures, and other environmental variables of her vineyards. This data is then processed by AI software to determine the irrigation needs of the vines, providing real-time notifications to vineyard managers.
The use of AI has not only improved grape quality and consistency but has also helped overcome labor shortages in the vineyards. Tule’s AI-powered app, Tule Vision, further enhances the monitoring process by analyzing video footage of the vines to assess their water requirements.
In the winery, AI is also making its mark with California-based tech firm Tastry developing an app that analyzes the chemical makeup of wines to match them with consumer preferences. This technology assists winemakers in creating blends that appeal to a wide audience.
While some traditionalists may view the use of AI in winemaking as sacrilegious, proponents like Maraden argue that AI is a tool to aid human winemakers in making more informed decisions based on scientific data. As the wine industry continues to evolve, the integration of AI technology is proving to be a game-changer in ensuring the quality and consistency of wines produced.