en.Wedoany.com Reported - Villa Sandi, a family-owned winery in Italy's Veneto region, is transforming over 200 hectares of vineyards into a smart ecosystem, achieving precision viticulture management through the coordinated work of sensors, satellite imagery, drones, and an artificial intelligence decision support system. Launched over two years ago as part of its sustainability strategy, the project has now seen all its vineyards certified as Biodiversity Friend.
The system connects all vineyards through a single digital platform, collecting and analyzing agronomic and climate data in real time. Monitoring equipment includes weather stations measuring temperature, humidity, rainfall, and wind speed; electronic sensors measuring leaf wetness; and sensors that read soil moisture at depths of approximately 70 centimeters. Drones and satellite imagery monitor nutritional vigor on a plot-by-plot basis, identifying variations within a range of meters, early signs of vine stress, and optimal harvest timing.
Leonardo Moretti Polegato, Vice President of Villa Sandi, stated that technology does not replace human expertise but enriches it. Agronomists can now access real-time data on climate conditions, soil moisture, plant behavior, and vineyard variability, enabling more accurate planning and targeted interventions. Their role has shifted from information collection to information interpretation and the application of field expertise.
This approach directly addresses issues such as rising temperatures, climate anomalies, and increasing water stress. Continuous monitoring allows for precise adjustments to irrigation and plant protection measures before problems arise, rather than reacting afterward. Villa Sandi estimates that plant protection treatments have been reduced by up to 20%, and water usage has decreased by an average of about 10% through optimized irrigation. In vineyards combining precision management with soil composition studies and the "M" series rootstocks developed in collaboration with the University of Milan's wine research team, water savings reach up to 70% compared to neighboring vineyards.
Villa Sandi is a family-owned winery headquartered in Italy's Veneto region. Since being acquired by the Moretti Polegato family in 1975, it has become a benchmark producer of Prosecco. Its business spans over 130 markets, with a strong focus on quality, sustainability, and hospitality.
