Automation in Action: Burkert New Zealand and the Realities of the Wine Industry Slowdown
The New Zealand wine industry is celebrated globally not just for its vibrant Sauvignon Blanc and boutique Pinot Noirs, but for its enduring spirit of innovation and adaptability. While today’s winemakers face significant pressures from navigating supply overhangs and rising input costs to the challenges of shifting global demand, they continue to blend generations of craftsmanship with the precise science of automation, forging a resilient path forward.
Tank space tight, spirits high: How NZ wineries are adapting through automation
Recent industry data confirms some producers are managing fuller tanks than usual, with “limited tank space in 2025 [that] saw some Marlborough growers leave lower-value fruit unpicked.” It’s a sign of challenging market conditions, as export volatility, inflation, and evolving consumer preferences all squeeze margins. Yet, in the face of headwinds, New Zealand wineries remain focused on quality, sustainability, and smart investment, ensuring that great wine and great potential never stand still for long.
It’s this determination that drives the adoption of new technology and creative solutions across vineyards and cellar doors. To explore how innovative automation is supporting wineries through change, we sat down with Patrick Glencross, Automation Engineer at Burkert New Zealand, to discuss practical approaches, successful adaptations, and opportunities that lie ahead for the industry.
Patrick explains what makes working with wineries in New Zealand unique, “Wineries are very process-focused, but also craft-oriented. That combination makes collaboration rewarding and we need to understand both the engineering challenges and the winemaking goals to deliver automation solutions that enhance efficiency while preserving product quality.”
The Burkert approach: Future-proofing wineries
A typical project with Burkert starts with a detailed consultation. Mapping out specific winery needs, tank configurations, existing infrastructure, and regulatory requirements. Then, the design and integration begin. From PLC and SCADA systems to smart valve, sensor arrays, Burkert’s technology enables:
- Real-time visibility into fermentation, tank management, refrigeration plants and utility usage
- Automated alarming and historical trending so process deviations are caught early
- Compliance-focused record keeping for the Wine Standards Management Plan (WSMP)
- Energy and water efficiency via smarter control over utilities
“One of the biggest shifts in cellar automation is the adoption of integrated systems that monitor and control critical production variables such as temperature, levels, agitation, CO₂, storage conditions and plant utilities in real time with the ability to enable secure remote supervision and control from any device with internet access, be it a PC, Smartphone or tablet devices.
This measured approach to digitalisation helps winemakers keep pace with a rapidly changing manufacturing environment. “Small improvements in digital monitoring, automated alarms, and centralised controls have a big impact, especially when experienced staff are scarce or budgets are tight.”
Resilient by design: Automation as a foundation for the future
Patrick believes automation isn’t just a cure for today’s headaches; it’s about building future resilience. “Even before a crisis, automating fermentation control, tank monitoring, and data logging makes compliance easier and improves quality. But right now, it also means wineries can run leaner and react more swiftly to economic shocks.”
Burkert’s most requested winery solutions include:
- On/Off and process valve systems for reliable tank control
- Smart sensor arrays to digitise temperature, flow, pressure, and level monitoring
- Integration with ERP systems (which may then connect to customer cloud platforms where required)
Importantly, Patrick encourages wineries to “focus on high-impact, low-risk areas first”, such as fermentation temperature upgrades and remote tank monitoring, before building towards broader IoT integration. “That way, investment is staged and risk is minimised, but the technological foundation is there for future expansion.”
Empowering winemakers providing peace of mind and partnership
As the industry slowly navigates through oversupply, sluggish demand, and shifting global trade winds, the only certainty is change. Automation, digitalisation, and sustainability will be at the core of every resilient wine business.
“Our proudest moments,” Patrick concludes, “are when formerly manual wineries realise the peace of mind that comes from seeing and controlling their processes in real time, primarily through central dashboards. That’s when they start seeing automation not as a cost, but as an ally in their winemaking mission.”
Even as New Zealand's wine sector learns to work with fuller tanks and a tricker market, those investing in smart automation with partners like Burkert find themselves better equipped, not just for today’s unpredictable climate, but for whatever the next vintage brings.