Reservoir Farms Launches Sonoma Robotics Hub for Viticulture Innovation

Reservoir Farms and Sonoma County Winegrowers have launched the first on‑farm robotics and automation hub dedicated to viticulture. The initiative is part of the Sonoma County Winegrowers’ Farm of the Future program, focused on sustainability and climate adaptation. The site includes fabrication facilities, engineering workshops, and vineyard test blocks for real‑world technology development. Robotics and AgTech startups—including Cropmind, Budbreak Innovations, and Beagle Technology—will join the program beginning in 2026. Reservoir Farms expands its multi‑regional strategy to accelerate deployment of automation across premium permanent crops.

Reservoir Farms Sonoma Establishes First Robotics and Automation Hub for Viticulture

Sonoma County Winegrowers and Reservoir announced the launch of Reservoir Farms, Sonoma—described as the world’s first on‑farm robotics and automation hub designed specifically for viticulture and permanent crops. Located in Sonoma County, the site extends Reservoir’s model first introduced in Salinas, bringing advanced engineering and field testing capabilities directly to winegrowers. The initiative is part of the Sonoma County Winegrowers’ Farm of the Future, launched in 2022 as a platform for growers and innovators to collaborate on sustainability, adaptation, and advanced production practices. “Sonoma County Winegrowers has long had a vision of being the ‘Silicon Valley’ of Ag Innovation for winegrapes and today that vision becomes a reality,” said Karissa Kruse, president and CEO of Sonoma County Winegrowers. “Winegrapes are one of the most labor‑intensive specialty crops, and emerging technology has the potential to transform how we manage vineyards, upskill our workforce, and continue to deliver for our consumers.”

Reservoir Farms Sonoma to Serve as Real‑World Development Site for Ag Robotics

The creation of Reservoir Farms, Sonoma establishes a working laboratory where winegrowers, startups, and partners can co‑develop automation and robotics solutions. The facility includes a fabrication center, engineering workshop, and 14 acres of managed vineyard blocks where companies can prototype and validate technologies in real field conditions. Amid rising labor costs and shrinking workforce availability, the hub aims to support operational resilience for winegrowers in Sonoma and across California. The site is expected to bring new jobs, entrepreneurial activity, and workforce development opportunities to the region. Reservoir plans to invite six startups to participate in the incubator by the end of 2025. Cropmind, Inc. and Budbreak Innovations will join in January 2026, and Beagle Technology—already a resident at Reservoir’s Salinas site—will expand its participation to Sonoma to advance vine‑pruning automation.

Expanding Across Regions to Accelerate AgTech Adoption

Reservoir’s growth into Sonoma County is part of a broader aim to build a network of on‑farm innovation hubs connecting growers, engineers, and research institutions. These hubs position Reservoir Farms as a bridge between agricultural needs and robotics development, enabling rapid iteration and deployment of field‑ready systems. “The next generation of breakthroughs in ag robotics happen if world‑class engineers have direct access to real farm environments to develop technology,” said Danny Bernstein, founder and CEO of Reservoir. “The next leap—whether it’s advanced perception, precision agriculture, rugged humanoids, or foundational AI platforms—will require engineers and growers building and problem‑solving together.”

By Sepehr Achard

the Reservoir Partners with John Deere to Drive High-Value Crop Innovation

Reservoir Farms has opened the first on‑farm robotics and automation hub dedicated to viticulture in Sonoma County, California. The facility, part of the Sonoma County Winegrowers’ Farm of the Future program, will provide fabrication, engineering, and 14 acres of vineyard test blocks for startups such as Cropmind, Budbreak Innovations and Beagle Technology to prototype and validate robotics solutions. Reservoir plans to invite six startups by the end of 2025 and expand its network of on‑farm innovation hubs across the region.