Where Heritage Meets High-Tech in the Vineyard - Kubota USA | Kubota USA
Where Heritage Meets High-Tech in the Vineyard
For more than 2,000 years, wine has been shaped by patience, craftsmanship and a deep respect for the land. At Treasury Wine Estates, that tradition continues today, paired with a commitment to exploring new ways to support the people who work in the vineyard and prepare for the future of farming.
Marc Di Pietra is the Regional Maintenance and Service Manager for Treasury Wine Estates Americas, overseeing mobile vineyard equipment across the company’s U.S. vineyards. A Southern California native with a background in inventory management and supply finance, Marc has spent the last eight years applying his experience in the wine industry, managing everything from equipment research and acquisition to repair, maintenance and eventual replacement.
Treasury Wine Estates is a global company managing more than 70 wine brands around the world. In the U.S., its vineyards represent well-known labels such as Penfolds, DAOU Vineyards, Beaulieu Vineyard, Stags’ Leap Winery, Etude, Frank Family Vineyards, Sterling Vineyards and Beringer Vineyards, where the primary varietals include cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay and sauvignon blanc.
During harvest season, Marc’s days are focused on logistics and timing. Coordinating the movement of grapes and equipment means long days and short weekends, all with the goal of keeping operations running smoothly during the busiest time of the year.
As the industry continues to face labor shortages and increasing environmental considerations, Marc has taken a strong interest in exploring alternative approaches to vineyard management. That focus led Treasury Wine Estates to begin testing autonomous equipment in their vineyards, including the use of an autonomous Kubota M5 Narrow tractor during the most recent growing season.
This past year marked the third season working with Agtonomy and the first season using the Kubota M5N for tasks such as mowing, undervine cultivation and fungicide spraying. While the technology has brought efficiency to daily operations, Marc says some of the greatest benefits have been in improving safety, reducing physically demanding work and creating opportunities for employees to build new technical skills. Automation has also helped address labor challenges while making vineyard work more sustainable over the long term.
The adoption of autonomy has also provided valuable learning opportunities. Many of the vineyards were not originally planted with mechanization in mind, and adapting them for autonomous operation has required adjustments in areas such as headland spacing and connectivity. These experiences are helping shape how future vineyards may be designed with technology in mind from the very beginning.
Looking ahead, Marc sees artificial intelligence and automation playing an important role in specialty crop farming by allowing for more precise and targeted vineyard treatments. This precision helps reduce the amount of product applied in the field while improving consistency across each block of vines.
Treasury Wine Estates’ experience using autonomous technology is one of the reasons the team was invited to join Kubota at CES, where innovators from around the world gather to showcase how technology is changing the way work gets done. For Marc and his team, the opportunity reflects how advancements in agriculture are already taking place in real-world operations, not just in research labs or concept demonstrations.
While Treasury Wine Estates welcomes guests through visitor centers across Napa Valley and through wines available at retailers and restaurants nationwide, much of the most important work happens quietly between the vineyard rows. It is there that tradition and innovation meet, helping ensure that vineyard operations become safer, more efficient and better prepared for what the future may bring.
For Marc, moving forward means being willing to learn, adapt and take thoughtful risks along the way. With partners like Kubota, Treasury Wine Estates continues to honor the craft of winemaking while embracing new tools that support their employees and the land they care for every day.
