Initial UV program reduced fungicide use and increased vine health
Autonomous UV robot will reduce soil compaction due to light weight in place of tractor passes
May 13, 2026 (Rutherford, CA) — Beckstoffer Vineyards, a premier winegrape grower with vineyards in Napa Valley, Mendocino and Lake Counties, trialed a Helios UV Boosting machine in their Beckstoffer Georges III and Melrose Vineyards in Rutherford beginning in 2022 and through 2024, leading them to purchase one in 2025. The initial trial was roughly six acres, and use has grown to 70 acres.
The Helios UV Boosting machine is a preventative tool against powdery mildew infection that also increases vine health. It is run during the day with the light panels placed as close to the leaves as possible. Beckstoffer Rutherford Vineyard Manager, Brian Hoefgen says, “UV Boosting is a supplement to our fungicide program, and we boost the vines three times throughout the growing season at different phenological stages. A flash of UV-C light stimulates the defense pathway of grapevines to temporarily produce more salicylic acid, effectively training them to react faster and more efficiently to future stress. Plant natural defenses activation makes both powdery mildew and botrytis sporulation more difficult. Triggering their defense mechanism also helps the vines become more resistant to damage from frost, heat and water stress.”
The company also recently announced a program exploring another sustainable approach to vineyard disease management through the use of an autonomous, Saga Robotics UV electric robot equipped with UV-C light. In Carneros, Beckstoffer deploys the robot during the night, when the applications target powdery mildew fungal spores and bacterial DNA, disrupting their ability to reproduce. The approximately 10-acre trial spans two vineyard blocks, each divided into treated and control sections. According to Beckstoffer Carneros Vineyard Manager, August D’Amato, “Within each block, half of the acreage will be treated with an autonomous robot twice per week until veraison, supplemented by three targeted sprays: a clean-up spray, a pre-bloom spray, and a bunch closure spray. The remaining acreage will follow Beckstoffer’s standard spray program until veraison, consisting of seven to eight applications, including fungicides, insecticides, and foliar nutrients.”
It’s clear that UV-C light can significantly reduce reliance on chemical inputs while maintaining effective control of common vineyard diseases such as powdery mildew and botrytis.
“This is a meaningful step forward in how we manage our vineyards and pushes us further down the path of sustainable and regenerative farming,” said Jim Lincoln, Beckstoffer General Manager, Napa Valley. “In Carneros, where cooler, maritime conditions can increase mildew pressure, we are always looking for ways to farm with greater precision while reducing inputs.” He added that the autonomous system now being evaluated represents the next step forward. “What’s exciting about this is that it builds on what we’ve already learned from the Helios UV Boosting machine, but with a different approach. The Saga Robotics system targets pathogens directly using UV-C light applied at night, and it does so autonomously, at a higher frequency. If it proves effective, it could further reduce the need for sprays while improving precision and consistency in how we manage disease.”
Weighing approximately 900 pounds, the robot significantly reduces soil compaction compared to traditional tractor-mounted spray equipment. Its fully electric operation also eliminates diesel use during operation, contributing to a lower carbon footprint.
Anticipated benefits of the trial include reduced sprays, decreased labor requirements, lower fuel consumption, and improved soil health. By minimizing reliance on conventional spray programs, Beckstoffer Vineyards aims to advance more sustainable and precise approaches to vineyard management.
ABOUT BECKSTOFFER VINEYARDS
Beckstoffer Vineyards is a venerable, family-owned California vineyard company that owns 4,000 acres in Mendocino County, Red Hills of Lake County, and Napa Valley, home to the company’s historic, world-class heritage vineyards. Founded in 1970, Beckstoffer Vineyards has played a transformative role in shaping the business of premium California wine grape growing. Beyond setting the benchmark for quality, the company has been a steadfast advocate for winegrower rights, fair labor practices, land preservation, environmental stewardship, and community engagement.
In 2023, Founder and Chairman Andy Beckstoffer donated his historic professional papers to the UC Davis Library. This extraordinary collection chronicles his journey to prominence and stands alongside the legacies of other visionary figures who helped shape California’s grape-growing and wine industries.
