UK wine robot project secures £475k funding boost

Working in partnership with Coopers Croft Vineyard in Suffolk and trade body WineGB, , Autopickr is now developing a new robot - named ‘Vinny’  - which will be capable of performing multiple key vineyard tasks including hand-picking and assisting with green harvesting and canopy management. 

Most machine harvesters agitate the vines to extract grapes, meaning that whole bunches can only be picked by hand. Many wine producers, particularly those that make premium traditional method sparkling wine, insist on the use of whole bunches.

Commenting on the project, Robyn Sands, Co-Founder and CEO of Autopickr, said: “We’re pleased to be collaborating with British vineyards to bring new robotic solutions into the wine industry. Our focus is on providing a practical tool that can take on some of the labour demands in the vineyard, especially during the busiest times of the year, while helping maintain the quality that matters so much in winemaking.”