Agriculture - Vineyard Maintenance · Douro Valley, Portugal
Vineyard Slope Maintenance - Portugal
A vineyard in the Douro Valley, Portugal, faced difficulties in maintaining steep slopes that exceeded 35° in certain areas. Traditional methods involving manual labor were inefficient and posed safety risks due to the uneven terrain. The client sought a solution to increase operational efficiency, reduce manual labor, and improve worker safety during harvest preparation. The […]
- Client
- Douro Vineyard
- Location
- Douro Valley, Portugal
- Sector
- Agriculture - Vineyard Maintenance
- Terrain
- Steep vineyard slopes with terraces, uneven surfaces and dry soil
- Vegetation
- Vines, weeds and seasonal undergrowth
- Area covered
- Approx. 150 hectares of vineyard, of which 60+ hectares are on slopes
- Slope
- Up to 35 deg (typical operating range: 25 deg-30 deg)
- Duration
- 8 weeks (including trial and training phase)
- Efficiency change
- Maintenance time reduced by approx. 70%-80% versus manual methods
- Operators
- 1 operator per unit, able to supervise multiple zones at once
- Deployment
- 2 units deployed for trial, expanded after a successful evaluation
- Conditions
- High summer temperatures, uneven ground, direct sun exposure
- Previous method
- Manual labour with handheld equipment, occasionally ride-on mowers
The challenge
The Douro vineyard operates large vineyards on the steep hills of the Douro Valley. Maintaining these slopes by hand presented the following challenges:
High injury risk: workers on steep, uneven terrain were prone to slips and falls
Inefficient method: manual pruning required long hours and many workers, delaying work in critical seasons
Limited machine access: ride-on mowers could not be used on the steep slopes, restricting the options
Inconsistent vegetation control: uneven cutting led to irregular vine growth and coverage
The client needed a cost-effective, safe and efficient solution to maintain the steep terrain of the vineyard.
What was deployed
As part of a phased implementation plan, RCVIX deployed the RM-800 remote control slope mower.
Implementation details:
Two units were deployed for trial in the slope areas of the vineyard at the outset
Operators were trained on site to run the remote control units and optimise mowing paths
A gradual transition from manual labour to remote control mowing
Remote operation let the team manage slope maintenance safely without exposing workers to high-risk areas
The trial period included fine-tuning the mowing pattern to suit the vineyard's unique terrain
After a successful evaluation, the client expanded the fleet with more units to cover a wider area of the vineyard.
The result
Maintenance time reduced by 70%-80% versus manual methods
Significantly improved safety, with no injury reports during deployment
Lower labour cost and reduced reliance on manual pruning crews
More consistent vegetation control, promoting healthier vine growth
Greater daily coverage per operator, reducing delays during harvest preparation
The client has since incorporated the RM-800 into its routine maintenance programme.
What made it work
- Suitable for steep vineyard slope maintenance up to 35 deg
- Remote operation removes the need to expose workers to hazardous terrain
- Lower labour costs and higher operational efficiency
- Consistent vegetation control that promotes better vine growth
- Scalable deployment for large vineyards with varied terrain
The RM-800 changed the way we manage the steep slopes of the vineyard. Tasks that used to take several workers a full day are now finished in a fraction of the time, and we no longer worry about worker safety on the slopes. The efficiency gain is remarkable. - Vineyard Manager, Douro Vineyard
A vineyard in the Douro Valley, Portugal, faced difficulties in maintaining steep slopes that exceeded 35° in certain areas. Traditional methods involving manual labor were inefficient and posed safety risks due to the uneven terrain. The client sought a solution to increase operational efficiency, reduce manual labor, and improve worker safety during harvest preparation.
The RCVIX RM-800 Remote Control Slope Mower was introduced to handle slope mowing, with a focus on ensuring safe operation in steep terrain. After the trial phase, the client experienced significant improvements in maintenance speed, cost reduction, and safety, while also benefiting from more consistent vegetation control.
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