2nd Guanajuato Wine Congress 2023

On June 22 and 23, 2023, a special event for wine industry professionals took place, offering a unique space for learning, connection, and guidance on the future of vineyards.

Speakers came from Argentina, Spain, and Mexico, covering a wide range of topics — recommendations on “Fertilization according to different vineyards”, “The role of must and wine analysis in enological decision-making”, and “The value of harvesting data for the future of your vineyards”, to name just a few of the talks.

The value of harvesting data

That last talk was given by Martin García Wilhelm, Chief Technology Officer at GRAPE.ag, who laid out a plan for bringing technology into Mexican vineyards with the intention of building on growers’ empirical knowledge rather than replacing it.

The benefits of harvesting data pay off in the short, medium, and long term. He emphasized the value of listening to the plants, giving several examples of decisions made possible by precision agriculture.

A technology scenario for 2030

Martin outlined a compelling technology scenario for 2030, arguing that the shift has to start now: a change of paradigm around the access, knowledge, and prices that are assumed to be out of reach for certain technologies. Services already exist today that deliver highly specific information at very affordable prices to support decision-making.

He showed how climate monitoring helps owners, viticulturists, and winemakers make better use of their resources — and how combining large volumes of data makes it possible to build algorithms that predict potential plant diseases, among other applications.

Vive el Vino

The event also hosted the Vive el Vino fair, where local exhibitors presented their wines alongside food pairings. Tastings and talks rounded out the program so that the general public could experience this great industry up close.

We hope to take part again in the 2024 edition. Events like this strengthen everyone involved in Mexico’s wine industry.

The GRAPE.ag Team