Treasury Wine Estates won the Best Technology Award for setting a new global benchmark with the world’s first fully automated barrel management system at its Barossa Valley facility.
The project has integrated digital workflows, QR codes, RFID tags, and driverless forklifts to replace legacy systems of chalk and cards, while also implementing renewable energy and water management practices.
Developed in collaboration with Nukon and Italy’s E80 Group, the $165 million project has transformed efficiency, traceability, and safety standards while digitising the entire barrel lifecycle – from inventory to emptying, filling, and storage. The factory can now produce more than 100 million litres of wine annually.
Fully commissioned in 2024, the system enables remote monitoring, supports energy savings through smart routing, and sets the stage for near lights-out manufacturing. It also improves product quality through real-time data insights that inform Treasury’s winemaking decisions globally.
As well as optimising operations, the project has supported growth in regional employment by creating skilled tech roles and enhancing the appeal of a regional setting to graduates in engineering and winemaking. It is a milestone achievement for the Australian wine industry, demonstrating how automation can enhance both tradition and sustainability in one of the world’s most celebrated wine regions.
