HOW TECHNOLOGY IS CHANGING WINE: A TRIP THROUGH THE INVENTIONS THAT ARE REVOLUTIONIZING THE ENOLOGICAL WORLD, FROM VINEYARDS WITH SATELLITE AND GPS TO ELECTRONIC LABELS, CORKS WITH MICROCHIPS, AND DIGITAL DNA

Satellites that control production, electronic identification cards, SMS, MMS, social networks, blogs, artificial languages and intelligent labels: these are the new terms that are revolutionizing the world of wine. If, on the one hand, wine must be linked to tradition because of the territory it is connected to, on the other hand, the sector is aiming towards technology to improve itself. Wine is now becoming hi-tech from start to finish: many control and management systems in the vineyards are based on satellites, sensors, GPS, WI-FI technology and internet. Thanks to these instruments, it is possible to monitor with precision, even from long distances, the development of vineyards.

Once the grape has successfully grown, then one of the most highly technological phases begins: the labeling. If, at one time, was similar to a business card for the producer, today, labels represent both an important tool against fraud, as well as an efficient tool for communication between producers and consumers. It can supplies complete information on wine, from the production to its place of origin, from the company to the best foods to drink it with. And all of this data can be received by consumers with a simple SMS or MMS. The label has also become a tool for distributors: recently, one that is capable of controlling and tracking the temperature of wine during transportation has been created.

Another element that has become hi-tech is the cork: now, within the cork microchips are hidden, which can memorize the entire production process.

As for anti-fraud technologies, there have been enormous steps ahead. Though the counterfeit market is still thriving, it must now confront increasingly sophisticated tools, like microchips, seals, bottle detectors, and digital DNA.

And there have also been advancements in the retail process as well: the internet has overturned the older ways of buying and selling wine, as well as promoting it. Besides eBay, now Amazon has even gotten into the wine business and the presence of these commercial colossals in this sector could have notable repercussions. Large companies aside, there is an ever increasing number of small and medium-sized enterprises that are able to become known on the internet and creating a direct contact with buyers. In this sense, blogs and social networks that are occupied with wine are fundamental because they create trends. On October 24th, in California, for example, there is set to be a meeting specifically for wine bloggers.

And it seems that new technology may even oust the traditional role of man as taster with the invention of the ‘e-tongue’ created at the Barcelona Institute of Microelectronics, an electronic tongue that is capable of distinguishing the different varieties of wine.