Fifth-generation vintner Ryan Kunde, who is the winemaker and co-founder of DRNK Wines, uses drones to exploit variability. He blends grapes from multiple blocks to achieve his desired flavor profile, a complex mix of vigor and maturity.
“We choose what sites we want to source fruit from, and what portion of the vineyard within those sites we want to make wine from,” says Kunde, who produces wines with grapes sourced from the Russian River Valley. “Using imagery from drones helps us zero in on the section of the vineyard we’re most interested in.”