The European project PREMIVM ("Low cost, hand-held and non-invasive optical sensor for multiparametric field analysis of grapes and leaves in vineyards”, Grant Agreement FP7-SME-2010-1, 262011) ran between 2011 and 2013 and aimed to the development of a portable device (WinePen) capable of estimating, in a non-invasive way, several parameters that characterize the maturation of the grape (sugar, chlorophyll and polyphenols content).

The WinePen instrument uses chlorophyll fluorescence and multi-spectral reflectance data as a working principle, working as a low-cost portable spectrometer (estimated price between 2,500-3,500 euros).

The existing pre-commercial prototype has a memory capacity of up to 8000 measurements with an autonomy of 48 hours of continuous operation. The dimensions are 255 x 75 x 40 mm and weight 300 g.

All field readings made with WinePen have associated GPS coordinates.

When loaded into the maturation management software in the vineyard, the data are processed and a maturation map of the vineyard plot is prepared allowing the user an easy and comprehensive analysis and interpretation of the spatial variability of the grape maturation in its vineyards.

The results obtained with the pre-commercial prototype of WinePen, in three consecutive years (2011-2013), demonstrated that it is an instrument with high potential for non-invasive and rapid assessment of grape composition, replacing the traditional and time-consuming ones with advantage. destructive chemical analyzes used to control ripening in the vineyards.

The PREMIVM project consortium was coordinated by Agri-Ciênca and is composed of the following entities:

• Agri-Ciência
• Ateknea Solutions
• Photon Systems Instruments
• DVC- Electronic Design and Manufacturing,
• Weingut S.A. Prüm
• Azienda Agricola il Peracio di Francesco Maseiro
• M. T. Dias
• Institute of Systems Biology and Ecology
• Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

 More information here:

https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/262011/reporting