Increase Efficiencies in Your Winery for Vintage 2026

Date: Friday 13 Feburary 2026
Time: 12pm-1:30 PM (ACST - Adelaide)
Location: Online (Teams)

Cost: $39

Free for WISA Members

About the Webinar

With margins under pressure and production costs rising, wineries are looking for practical strategies they can implement to increase efficiency, reduce waste, and improve profitability. This hands-on workshop is designed for winery owners, winemakers, and winery professionals who want to take control of what they can influence and optimise operations for the 2026 vintage.

What you’ll take away:

• Practical tools to streamline winery processes

• Actionable strategies to reduce costs without compromising quality

• Insights from industry experts and peers facing similar challenges

This webinar includes an interactive session where participants can share what’s working in their own wineries and learn from others across the industry. Beyond expert insights, it’s a practical opportunity to collaborate, compare approaches, and take away ideas you can apply immediately during vintage.

Dr Eric Wilkes, Technical Specialist AWRI (Australian Wine Research Institute)

Smarter Analysis, Better Decisions
Ferment and wine analysis can be a significant – and often hidden – cost in wineries. Eric will unpack a process-driven approach to analysis, focusing on doing only the testing that genuinely adds value. Learn how appropriate, timely analysis can reduce delays, avoid unnecessary cost, and improve overall winery efficiency during vintage.

Leon Minnie, Product Manager, IDEC Commercial & International, Seeley International

Efficient Barrel Hall Management for Quality & Sustainability

Leon will explore how precise temperature and humidity control in barrel halls can improve wine quality while reducing operational costs. Using advanced Indirect-Direct Evaporative Cooling (IDEC) technology, wineries can minimise oxidation and “angel’s share” losses, extend barrel life, lower labour input, and significantly reduce energy and water use.

Josh Amos-Winfield, Engineering Manager, Enartis

Real-Time Fermentation Control & Automation

Traditional fermentation management can lead to delayed reactions, manual workload and wine loss. Josh will show how digital tools, real-time data, predictive algorithms and automated alerts give winemakers greater control and confidence, enabling faster decisions, reduced waste, optimised labour and meaningful efficiency gains during vintage..

Radek Petlak, Director & Owner Efficient Winery

Practical Efficiency Wins You Can Implement Now

Radek will share hands-on efficiency improvements across the winery, including energy and refrigeration use, pumping and preventative maintenance, tank and fermenter washing, receiving and pressing operations, fermentation management, sampling accuracy, and safe, efficient powder additions. A practical, systems-focused view on reducing cost, downtime and product loss.

Who Should Attend

This workshop is ideal for:

• Winery owners and managers

• Winemakers and production staff

• Professionals responsible for winery operations