Robots Take Over Italys Vineyards as Wineries Struggle With Covid-19 Worker Shortages – The Wall Street Journal

VALDELSA, ItalyLast years grape harvest was a harrowing scramble at Mirko Cappellis Tuscan vineyard. With the Italian border closed because of the pandemic, the Eastern European workers he had come to rely on couldnt get into thecountry.The company he had contracted to supply grape pickers had no one to offer him.Heultimatelyfound just enough workers to bring the grapes in on time.

So, this year Mr. Cappelli made sure he wouldnt face the same problem: He spent 85,000, equivalent to $98,000, on a grape-harvesting machine.

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Robots Take Over Italys Vineyards as Wineries Struggle With Covid-19 Worker Shortages - The Wall Street Journal