VINITECH-SIFEL
2014
WGGA facilitated, Vinitech-Sifel
sponsored trip
A report outlining the innovations in the Wine and Viticulture
industries presented at the Vinitech-Sifel conference,
Bordeaux, France 2014. Complied by Sam Bowman.
Vinitech-Sifel 2014
Vinitech-Sifel 2014
W G G A FAC I L I TAT E D, V I N I T E C H - S I F E L S P O N S O R E D T R I P
WGGA facilitation
In November of 2014 Adelaide Hills viticultural consultant Simon Berry and I were chosen by the WGGA to
represent the organization at Vinitech-Sifel 2014, the largest agricultural forum in the world. The sponsorship
included flights, accommodation, VIP entry into the event and meetings with winemakers and company
representatives. We were joined by other representatives from the Australian Wine industry from all regions
throughout Australia.
Vinitech-Sifel 2014, Bordeaux, France
Vinitech-Sifel 2014 was held from December 2-4 at the Bordeaux Exhibition Centre. The multi sector
exhibition comprised of 850 exhibitors split across five sectors: Vineyards, orchards and vegetable farming,
fruit & vegetables, Services & Training, Wine Production and Bottling & Packaging. At the center of the
enormous 65,000m2 exhibition space was the innovation showcase, an exhibition of the innovation award
winners and the latest product releases. The exhibition welcomes industry professionals from over 70 countries
with exhibitors from over 20 countries making it a premier global wine and viticulture industry event.
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a beautiful city. Originally a port town, the city straddles the Garonne river comprising of a left
and right bank. The entire city is Unesco listed making it the largest urban world heritage site in the world. The
city is immaculately presented, this is mostly due to the restoration of many buildings by the much loved
Mayor of Bordeaux Alain Juppe who also initiated the citys high tech transport system which gives a contrast
throughout the urban center between the modern and the amazing neoclassical buildings throughout the city.
The town itself is vibrant and full of life, our group arrived on the 1st of December to a chilly winters day but
despite the cool weather the city was bustling with shoppers and full restaurants. Bordeaux has a population
of around 1.1 million people making at the fourth largest in France, the regions wine being a major
drawcard, the city is visited by 2.5 million tourists annually.
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As with many French cities food and wine are an integral part of
daily life, our group had the pleasure of dining at some great
restaurants, all with high quality food and excellent local wines at
no more than 30-40 euro per head. In addition to the many bars,
cafes and restaurants there are also some gems for wine lovers.
Aux Quatre Coins du Vin and Maison du Vin found in the cities
center both employ the use of enomatic machines, offering a
large selection of wines by the glass without the risk of spoilage
and losses due to inert gas covering the wine in bottle, this is a
fantastic way to enjoy the wines from the region(and from around
the world at Aux Quatre Coins) without the hefty price tag of
some of the Bordeaux wines.
Bordeaux Wine Industry
The region of Bordeaux has been producing wine since the 8th
century and nowadays comprises some 116,160 Ha of vineyard.
The industry is worth 14.5 billion euro and production is over 960
million bottles a year. It is difficult to comprehend that Bordeaux
produces some 2 million tonnes of grapes per year, which is more
in one region than the whole of the Australian crush combined. Bordeaux employs a classification system
initiated in 1855 which separates the 10,000 wine producing chateaus into 5 growths or crus. The five first
growths are some of the worlds most highly regarded and expensive wines. Cabernet Sauvignon dominates
plantings with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Carmenere and Malbec comprising the remainder of the
red varieties permitted and Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle for the white varieties. As in Australia
each region has a governing body which handles levies paid by growers for Bordeaux the CIVB handle
marketing and industry development.
The Aussie contingent
As mentioned previously Simon Berry and I were joined by a number of Australian Wine industry
professionals, they were Justin Jarret(Jarrets of Orange), Dave Pridmore( Printhie Wines), Brad Wehr(Amato
Vino), Matt Harrop(Shadowfax wines), Colby Quirk(Sitella wines) and the formidable Adrian
Sparks(McWilliams Wines) led by our host Sandra from Promosalons Australia. The group covered 7 major
regions in Australia and a combination of business managers, owners, winemakers and viticulturists made for
some fantastic evening discussions and different views of the exhibits presented at the Vinitech conference.
The Vinitech Layout
The Vinitech conference was held in the Bordeaux exhibition center which has adequate space to hold the
many exhibits involved in the massive three days, I cant stress the sheer volume of machinery, information and
products.
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The entrance of the hall showcased the viticultural section which included all the major harvesting, cultivation,
spraying, tractors and pruning equipment, for any person involved in viticulture this was like being a kid in a
toyshop.
The second section was designated for innovation awards, seminars and the international VIP lounge which is
a great little area set aside for international guests to take a break and have a coffee (or beer) before
tackling the next section.
Further through the hall was bottling and packaging and through to the enormous wine production section.
Everything from barrels to presses the mass of stainless steel was impressive and a great insight into the future
of wine processing.
The three days are needed for anyone involved in every facet of wine production, I spent the entire first day
just in the Viticulture section alone. The center is well equipped with food and beverage stalls for when you
are in need of a break, the French being renowned for their hospitality ensured every stall had an adequate
supply of wine as well. As part of our trip hosted by Promosalons we were treated to some great
presentations over the three days which gave us an in depth look into a number of products.
Innovation Awards
The central theme to the Vinitech-Sifel exhibition is innovation with awards handed out every year to the most
unique and beneficial products produced. The winner of the 2014 Jury Prize was a mini digger and pile
driver created by the company Duvigneau & Fils. This compact tract driven unit allows the operator to install
trellis, hammer in post nails and uncoil trellis wire pneumatically and with GPS guidance at an accuracy of
1cm. The machine can also be used for planting vines and many other operations which would suit many small
growers.
Pellenc were also the recipients of a gold award for their “easy turn steering system”. This turning system
allows the operator to move to the row adjacent without any three point turns. The system offers a 95 degree
turning angle results in less headland compaction and greater efficiency due to less maneuvering.
Viticulture
Harvesting
All of the big guns of the grape harvesting business had their latest
machines on show. It is obvious by the machines on show that on-board
sorting and destemming is the direction for most companies, the Pellenc
“optimum” and New Holland “Opti-grape” system both employ optical
sorting on board the harvester to deliver only whole berries to the bin.
Both are self-propelled units which deliver gentle efficient harvesting,
offer 99% removal of MOG and the efficient engines allow fuel
savings in comparison to earlier models. The added bonus for the
Pellenc is the multifunction capability which allows the machine to be
used throughout the season for many tasks such as trimming, spraying
and wire lifting which makes it a great option for owner operators. The
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beauty of these self-propelled units with on board hoppers is the fact the operator is focusing on one thing
and that is harvesting, eliminating the boom and chaser bin is a great advancement.
ERO Grapeliner-6000
A highlight of the harvesting section was the ERO Grapeliner-6000 which is distributed by FMR in Australia.
Again we are seeing the advancement in onboard sorting with the grapeliner offering a winery spec
destemmer along with advanced leaf removal which again delivers whole berries to the 3.5 tonne on board
hopper. The machine is a monster and at first I thought it was a bit of overkill until I climbed into the cabin, the
view from the drivers seat is unrivalled and the comfort offered to the operator is again far greater than
other models. The unit is controlled by a joystick which alters height and harvesting parameters. On board
CCTV allows the operator to view 4 operations at once from the large control screen in the cabin. Another
great feature is the configuration of the conveyors, one side is separated by a steel plate between the fruit
and juice and the other for the hydraulics and oil flow, meaning if a hydraulic hose does burst it is contained
and eliminates the risk of fruit contamination. The machines load sensing capabilities allow operation at a
lower RPM which the company estimates in a 30% fuel usage reduction.
Cultivation
It is no secret the French do not promote the use of herbicides for under vine weed control, Vinitech made that
all the more clear by making it extremely hard to find one under vine herbicide sprayer. Under vine and
midrow cultivation is king in Europe and the technology advancement, product range and efficient engineering
on offer had me thinking twice about my robust spray programme.
Braun LUV system
The Braun vineyard products on show were exceptional. They offer midrow tilling and disc plough machines
and also one of the best under vine weed control units around. The LUV system offers an under vine weeder
blade, mulcher and rotary hoe head which are all interchangeable on the one side mounted unit. This allows
the operator to employ the right tool for the right vineyard and makes the outright unit cost more beneficial.
The sensors have improved somewhat since I had last been in contact with under vine weeders and nothing is
missed as the machine passes through the vines. Simple German engineering at its best. The beauty of this unit
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is the adaptability for many situations. Braun have also developed another head for the same LUV unit which
can be top mounted on the tractor and uses cutter bars and a swinging handle which trims the top of dormant
VSP canopies and the spring loaded handle rips through tendrils reducing pulling out time on cane pruned
vineyards significantly, while the spring loaded handle swings in and out of the posts. This machine is robust,
well built and to me a great option for Australian conditions given the differing weed populations and varied
vine age/condition we encounter, also for the growing number of vineyards moving away from chemical
weed control.
Fungicide Spraying
Vinitech-Sifel as with harvesting and cultivation showcased the latest in
spray technology from a number of global manufacturers. As harvesters
are going towards on board selection it seems quite clear that recycle
sprayers are the way forward in global viticulture. As we have seen the
FMR becoming an increasingly popular choice for Australian growers many
European producers had their latest on show. Italian company Bertoni were
showcasing their latest in recycle spraying, the machine is impressive and
looks rigid enough to get the job done in Aussie conditions there is a trade
off though with the unit run majority through on board electrics, this reduces
RPM and lowers fuel consumption and emissions but also lends itself to
breakdowns and hazards.
Another unit which was quite impressive and received an
innovation award was the Gregoire “eco-protect” recycle
sprayer. Differing from the conventional rigid frame the
ecoprotect opts for the use of two canvas sleeves which straddle
the vine rows. Air from the sprayer turbine is injected between
the canvas causing it to become semi-rigid which leads to less
breakages and softer travel through the vineyard. All spray is
filtered and returned to the tank and spaces not covered by the
machine are buffered with a film of air which keeps all drift
contained, maximizing chemical usage. This machine was
awarded a silver medal for innovation in 2013 and in theory
seems like a great unit, would really like to see how it handles in
the vineyard.
Vineyard Operations
Along with the vast array of viticultural gadgets on show there
were some real stand outs that could really make an impact on
our day to day operations.
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The AVA disbudding machine alongside the Braun LUV system were by far
the standouts for me in the viticulture section. This machine which can be
designed as a double row operation uses flexible plastic bristles which are
controlled through hydraulic motors which rub up and down the base of the
vine to remove suckers, a task which we all know to be draining physically
and financially. All of the mechanical disbudding units I had seen in the
past did not account for a dripline and were not suited to many Australian
vineyards but this unit (which is being used now in NZ) allows the machine
to function effectively without damaging the dripline. The unit has complete
hydraulic control and is not set to a specific height rather it adjusts based
on ground variation so nothing is missed. It also has the capability to be
moved around young vines so damage is further reduced. I highly
recommend having a look at the youtube video of the machine in action
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-iZZj1TMv8)
Pruning equipment was well represented with Pellenc and Infaco having large demonstration areas to
showcase their latest electric snips, while looking over the pellenc gear I noticed their “spectron” device. This
hand held battery operated unit allows the operator to measure sugar, acid, anthocyanin and water content
by simply holding the end of the device against the bunch. The idea is fantastic as bunch sampling and harvest
prediction is such a time consuming task, this could also be a handy tool for the GLO to carry in the car to
assist with grade determination. Some other great devices were a 4x4 mule type vehicle which is completely
battery operated and utilizes solar energy as the entire roof over the cabin is a large solar panel which runs
to an inbuilt inverter to power the car, great cost saving and environmentally friendly option to help with the
little jobs. Tecnoagri had a mini excavator which can be joined onto a standard 3 point linkage and run off
the tractors hydraulics, operator sits on the unit with another driving the
tractor would be very handy for running irrigation and general work
around the vineyard.
Winemaking and beyond
The winemaking exhibition was impressive, a mass of French oak and
stainless steel. The coopers exhibits looked more like first class airport
lounges and were very accommodating, our contingent was lucky
enough to receive a presentation from Vicard to go through the
background of the business and their unique production process. The
common theme running throughout the winemaking equipment was softer
handling, more advanced sorting and ease of cleaning and a reduction
in water usage. Vaslin Bucher had their “xpert inertys” press on show
which holds the juice under nitrogen gas from press to tank excluding
oxygen in the entire process. Pellenc have made improvements to their
optical sorting table which utilizes the same system that is in place in the
“optimum” harvester. The vibrating table filters juice and belt feeds fruit
past in inbuilt camera which sorts based on the input settings, small air jets then blast away any undesirable
berries to a screw press which drops the waste into a separate bin. The fact these machines are offering a
99% reduction in MOG makes for an exciting prospect in fruit quality for the coming years. Another great
unit which I believe a few Australian wineries are now using is the Pulsair tank agitation system. The
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Pneumatage device works by dosing the bottom of fermentation vessels with large bubbles which rise up
through the tank mixing the ferment. As the system can be automated it could be a great option in certain
winery situations in place of traditional pump-overs.
Chateau Visits
Our group was very privileged to be taken to two Bordeaux Chateaus during our stay. The first, Chateau La
Lagune, a third growth producer in the Haut-Medoc region. La Lagune produces three tiers of red wine at
differing price points all off their 120ha of company owned vineyard. The
emphasis here is on selection, all grapes are hand picked, hand sorted, put
through an optical sorting machine and eventually gravity fed into
fermentation vessels. The winery is impressive, built to purpose in 2004 it
was great to see the envy in the eyes of the winemaking lads. In the
vineyard the company is into its third year of organics and yields are
limited to 2.5 tonne to the acre.
The second chateau was definitely a trip highlight. After some confusion with
the name, the group originally thought we were going to Chateau Mouton
Cadet (a large producer of cheap Bordeaux wines) with some people on
the trip opting out of the visit in favor of spending some more time at the
exhibition. I was one of the lucky ones who was treated to a guided tour
and tasting at the renowned first growth producer Chateau Mouton
Rothschild.
Established in 1853 in Pauillac in the Medoc region Mouton Rothschild is
everything you would imagine a first growth producer to be. Immaculately
presented and purpose built yet still holding onto the old world charm that
people are so drawn to. Being guided through the cellars we observed the
many cellar hands racking the previous vintage directly out of barrel
under candle light and egg white fining cracked straight into the barrel.
The grand barrel hall which awaits the coming vintage is a sight to be
seen, hundreds of new oak barriques lined single stacked lead to the
Rothschild family crest, everything solidifies why the French are such great
marketers for their product. After a visit through the private cellars and
gallery of the Rothschilds we were treated to a tasting of the 2013 which
was yet to be bottled and even at 10am was very much enjoyed by the
group. Another highlight was breaking the news to the winemaking lads
that it was Rothschild and not Cadet!
Summary
Vinitech-Sifel was a great experience and I could not recommend it more highly to anyone in the industry,
personally the best part of attending these type of trade shows is looking at the overall direction of the
production industry as a whole. Elimination of MOG, softer grape and wine handling, optical technology,
mechanization of labor intensive operations and a reduction in chemical inputs, the emphasis is on obtaining
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optimum refinement of the grape sample. I look forward to seeing some of these innovations being adopted
throughout Australia.
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank WGGA for the selection to be involved in this trip, it was truly a highlight of my career to
date. Sandra Trew our Promosalons host who did a fantastic job keeping everyone in line and the rest of the
Aussie contingent, a great group of people who made the experience a
very worthwhile time.
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