As part of the digital 64th International DWV Congress, the German Winegrowers' Association (DWV) once again presented its renowned Innovation Award for outstanding new and further developments in technical processes, systems, products and services in viticulture.
A total of 29 companies submitted 34 innovations in the four categories "Cultivation and harvesting technology", "Processing and process control", "Filling and packaging technology" and "Organisation and marketing". In the first round of judging, the international jury, which is made up of scientists and practitioners, recognised the best innovations, 8 companies with the status "Excellent Innovation" honoured.
On Wednesday, DWV President Klaus Schneider announced the gold and silver award winners, which were selected from the "Outstanding Innovations" in a second evaluation stage, in front of the congress audience and numerous representatives of winegrowing politics.
Schneider: "Good networking between science and practice is essential for the wine industry in order to fulfil political and social demands and to constantly develop and challenge itself anew." He thanked the innovative companies for their commitment in favour of constant technical progress.
A gold medal was awarded to one entry in each of the categories of cultivation and harvesting technology and processing and process control:
Cultivation and harvesting technology category
NAIO Technologies: TED agricultural robots for weed control
The French company NAIO Technologies has developed an autonomous agricultural robot with an electric drive. The jury judged this new development to be a decisive improvement on the current standard of soil cultivation in viticulture. The award-winning TED robot demonstrates the potential of how mechanical weed control can be realised effectively and precisely in the area of special crops in the future. The agricultural robot is GNSS-controlled and equipped with several sensors that enable a high degree of navigation and work safety for the cultivated crops and for humans. The lightweight autonomous implement carrier also has significant advantages over conventional forms of cultivation in terms of reducing nitrogen oxide emissions, the CO2 balance, noise pollution and soil compaction. In addition, data on the cultivated crop is continuously recorded and analysed. In the jury's opinion, the TED agricultural robot is an innovative solution for reducing the use of herbicides and countering future labour shortages.
Overall, the agricultural robot from NAIO Technologies is a new development that can significantly improve the current standard of soil cultivation in viticulture.
Processing and process control category
Lallemand: Lallemand 20 ML-Prime
The panel of experts in the "Processing and Process Control" category agreed to award Lallemand's ML Prime oenological product a gold medal as the most innovative oenological product of 2022. Based on a total of seven criteria, ranging from the degree of innovation, the impact on wine quality and sustainability issues to practical applicability, ML Prime achieved top marks and thus the highest honour in the Processing and Process Control category.
The product name ML Prime refers to the bacterium Lactobacillus plantarum, which is responsible for malolactic fermentation in wine production. According to the manufacturer, ML Prime is characterised by high malolactic enzyme activity, which means that malic acid is quickly and safely degraded to lactic acid after a short storage phase. Numerous application studies carried out with ML Prime prior to its market launch since 2015 in Veitshöchheim, Weinsberg, Geisenheim and Neustadt, among others, have impressively demonstrated that ML Prime makes malolactic fermentation a safe process in the winery. One outstanding feature is that ML Prime works perfectly even at very low pH values, as was the case in the 2021 vintage. ML Prime is suitable for use in white and red wine, is very easy to handle in the cellar, does not leave diacetyl in the wine and does not result in an increased SO2 requirement after use. In the end, ML Prime even saves energy and costs in the cellar, as there is no need for warming up to start the malolactic fermentation.
Three entries in the cultivation and harvesting technology category were honoured with a silver medal:
Cultivation and harvesting technology category
ERO GmbH: VITIpulse Combi
The VITIpulse Combi defoliator from ERO GmbH in Simmern combines two defoliation techniques in one device. The VITIpulse Combi combines the two world market-leading defoliation systems in one working head and enables two defoliation processes in one operation. The combination enables a higher travelling speed than when the defoliation systems are used separately, thus reducing the total working time by more than half.
During operation, the roller defoliator is connected upstream of the compressed air defoliator. As the outer leaves have already been removed, the second defoliator system can work with a low air pressure. It should be emphasised that the roller and compressed air defoliator systems as well as the right and left working sides can be controlled independently of each other.
The jury judged this to be a significant improvement in the current standard of defoliation technology in viticulture and awarded the silver medal to the VITIpulse Combi from ERO GmbH in Simmern.
Cultivation and harvesting technology category
Hofstaetter Technologies: HELIOS Wine
The solution concept "Revolutionary protection system against late frost damage in viticulture - HELIOS Wine" from the Austrian company Helmut Hofstaetter is recognised as a significant improvement on the current standard in viticulture. For this reason, the jury awarded the silver medal to the solution concept against late frost damage in viticulture. The method against late frost damage is a new energy-efficient protection system combining the evaluated heating cable attached to the bending wire and an additional insulating sheath that keeps the released thermal energy inside the sheath.
If there is a risk of frost, the two-part cover is unrolled in the vineyard, placed over the vines and securely fastened with the integrated Velcro fastener. The reflective material on the outside ensures that the vines or shoots do not overheat when exposed to sunlight and that the cover can remain attached to the vine row for several days. The four main components of the system - heating cable, distributor, insulating cover and power supply - are modular in design and can be customised to suit local conditions. The system itself requires very little energy during operation and consumes around 27 kWh per hectare on an average frosty night. From the jury's point of view, the system offers the advantage of increased late frost protection as well as a significant improvement in the environmental and energy situation.
Cultivation and harvesting technology category
WM Agri Technics GmbH: Viroc 80
The newly designed specialised tractor for special crops has a number of technological innovations that significantly improve work in steep slope viticulture. Particularly noteworthy is the air-conditioned ROPS-certified CAT 4 cab, which protects the driver from spray mist or accidents when applying plant protection products and thus makes a significant contribution to the operator's occupational safety. Despite its very compact dimensions and enormous manoeuvrability, the special tractor sets new standards for agricultural tractors with its 75 hp and total weight of just 1270 kg. This enables the use of powerful attachments even on steep slopes that demand enormous power.
The newly designed system enables a wide range of mechanisation options with a high level of work safety, even on extremely steep slopes, and contributes to the preservation of traditional steep-slope viticulture. The jury honoured the VIROC 80 from the Italian company WM Agri Technics GmbH with the silver medal for the sum of significant improvements compared to the standard.
The German Winegrowers' Association, DWV for short, is the professional organisation of German winegrowers. It represents the overall interests of its members vis-à-vis international and national institutions and organisations and is committed to protecting and promoting the professional interests of the German winegrowing community.
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