Yarra Valley & King Valley Field Day I Smart Strategies for Sustainable Profits
Following our two sold out field days in the Grampians and Heathcote in 2024, Wine Victoria will be hosting two field days in the Yarra Valley (June 4th) and King Valley (June 5th) this year.
The two field days will be focused on Smart strategies for sustainable profits.
The program for the day will feature demonstrations and talks from Dr David Jordan, Nuffield Scholar Richard Leask, Ben Thomson from Bests discussing the UVC trial with Agri Automation, Agriculture Victoria, and Wine Australia and drone demonstrations (imaging and spraying).
Yarra Valley Field Day Details
Date: Wednesday, 4th June 2025
Time: 9.30am - 3pm
Location: Dominique Portet, 870-872 Maroondah Hwy, Coldstream VIC 3770
Event Fees: $40pp + GST (Includes admission, morning tea & lunch)
Important: This event is open to Wine Victoria members only (direct or via your Regional Association)
Yarra Valley Field Day is SOLD OUT
King Valley Field Day Details
Date: Thursday, 5th June 2025
Time: 9.30am - 3pm
Location: Brown Brothers Winery, 244 Milawa-Bobinawarrah Rd, Milawa VIC 3678
Event Fees: $40pp + GST (Includes admission, morning tea & lunch)
Important: This event is open to Wine Victoria members only (direct or via your Regional Association)
Click here to attend the King Valley Field Day
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Field Day Agenda
9:30am-10:00am - Registration, morning tea and coffee and biosecurity footbaths protocol
10:00am Start – Introduction Wine Victoria
10:10am – 10:50am – Session 1
Topic: How vineyard automation and new technology can save you time and money
Presented by:
Dr David Jordan – Viticulture Scientist, Vine to Wine to Market
Dr David Jordan will be presenting on how automation and new technology can help improve your vineyard operations, saving you time and money. DJ will discuss recent advancements that have been trialed in New Zealand and how they can apply in our regions.
10:50am – 12:00pm – Session 2
Topic: Demonstration – Agricultural drones for spraying, mapping and diagnostics
Now a cost-effective option and practical asset for vineyards.
Presented by:
Falcon UAV – Vine health monitoring and targeted nutrition programs, as well as a bird scaring drone.
Droneland Australia – Vineyard spraying/spreading and vineyard mapping with drones (Yarra Valley only).
AviAg Drone Services – Drone spraying techniques and logistics, as well as variable rate fertiliser application (King Valley only).
1:00pm – 1:40pm – Session 3
Topic: Flip your thinking – what can you remove to grow smarter for the future. Improve efficiencies and reduce costs using sustainable viticulture.
Presented by: Richard Leask – Viticulturist, Leask Agri
Richard Leask, is a Nuffield scholar and a well-regarded expert in regenerative farming. In today’s challenging climate, profitability requires more than just cutting costs — it demands a strategic rethink of how we grow. This session will explore the power of a removal approach in thinking across your vineyard operations: What tasks, inputs, or processes can be stripped back or eliminated entirely — not just to save money, but to unlock efficiency, improve quality, and sustainability practices? Challenge assumptions, identify hidden drains on your business, and reframe “less” as a pathway to growing smarter.
1:40pm – 2:30pm – Session 4
Topic: Case Study & Tasting - Trial of autonomous UV-C light vehicle
Presented by: Ben Thomson – Managing Director & Vineyard Manager, Best’s Great Western and Andy Clarke, Wine Australia
Ben Thomson from Best’s Wines will be discussing the trial of the system which uses a non-chemical, autonomous method for controlling powdery mildew, using UV-C light. Ben will also be bringing two wines for tasting, looking at a conventionally sprayed block compared to a UVEX trial block, along with sample analysis of both.
This is the first commercial trial of the UVEX system in an Australian vineyard, which is co-funded by Wine Australia, Agriculture Victoria, and Agri Automation Australia. Andy Clarke, Wine Australia’s AgTech Program Manager, will be presenting on the technology of the system, how it works and future plans, alongside operational footage that demonstrates its unique capabilities.
2:30pm – 3:00pm – Session 5
Topic: Panel discussion – Mick Griffith, Viticulturist at Wine Network Consulting, will lead a discussion on the focus topic of the day, smart strategies for sustainable profit, with the expert panel of presenters.
Dr David Jordan; Richard Leask; Ben Thomson; and Andy Clarke
- Yarra Valley Field Day SOLD OUT
- King Valley Field Day attendance form
Important: This event is only open to Wine Victoria Members either direct or via your Regional Association. To become a member and take part in this event, please click here.
