“We successfully automated almost every irrigation set last season,” said Andrew Oliver, Vineyard Manager at Antinori. “Lumo’s pump automation is an absolute game changer for our team,” agreed Hunter Emch, Northern Unit Area Manager at Redwood Empire Vineyard Management. REVM and Antinori are two early users of Lumo’s Pump Automation product, a powerful new integration with its smart valve platform that automates irrigation scheduling and execution from end to end. The solution has already been deployed at ranches ranging in size from 60 to 1,300 acres. Real-time, block-level flow and pressure data from Lumo smart valves is used to verify performance, dial in precision, and keep critical infrastructure safe. Over 150 ranches in Napa, Sonoma, the Central Coast, the Okanagan Valley and Washington State are already using Lumo’s precision irrigation system to close their execution gap, increase operational efficiency, and irrigate to plan. In July

Blended Technologies is excited to announce the appointment of Heather Crawford as its new Vice President of Growth.  Heather, a seasoned leader at the intersection of the wine industry and technology, most recently served as an operations, sales and marketing leader at Vintrace. Her career has been defined by integrating cutting-edge technological solutions within some of the world’s leading wineries, including Treasury Wine Estates, Far Niente and Wente Vineyards.  With her proven commercial track record, Heather will focus on scaling Blended’s market presence and commercial operations. She will work alongside the Blended team and report directly to CEO, Matt Witte.  "Heather’s deep expertise in business development will be pivotal as we accelerate our growth," said Matt Witte, founder of Blended. "She has been a leader in winery operations software for many years, and her insights have helped drive innovation across the industry. We&r

It’s generally believed that farmers are slow to adopt new technology. Yet, while this adage may be true for more expensive and untested innovations, when a new technology is practical, affordable and can prove its value and reliability, farmers will indeed set aside their innate caution and readily invest. Tyler Klick is a case in point. As the viticulturist and a co-owner of Redwood Empire Vineyard Management in Geyserville, CA, he decided to try an innovative smart irrigation technology developed by Lumo. Klick first installed Lumo smart valves on a few client vineyards last season. After seeing how they helped increase labor efficiency, reduce wasted water, and improve clients’ crop outcomes, he rolled it out to more than a dozen vineyards his company manages. “I’d love to get to a point where all of our clients have it installed,” says Klick. Lumo smart valves also help West Coast viticulturists adjust to changing weather patterns, which have brought

Afternoon Brief: Neil Empson, Pioneer of Fine Italian Wine in the US Market, Dies at 85

The EMPSON Companies announce the passing of their beloved Chairman and Co-Founder, Neil Trevanion Howard Empson, on Saturday, September 14, 2024. He was 85 years old...