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Since 2023, O'Neill Vintners has partnered with Agrology to monitor and quantify outcomes from the world’s largest regenerative organic viticulture trial. O’Neill’s regenerative blocks follow the rigorous Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC) standard, prioritizing soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness. 

The trial compares a regenerative organic program with a conventional viticulture program within a single vineyard block with the same soil type, same varietal, and the same irrigation applied. The goal of the trial is to assess the impacts of each program across various metrics - including but not limited to: carbon sequestration, soil microbial activity, water holding capacity, canopy temperatures, yield, quality, cost, and wine characteristics. 

To capture the in-field insights O’Neill deployed Agrology sensors to measure differences in:

• Soil and canopy temperatures

• Soil microbial activity

• Soil moisture, water holding capacity, and volumetric water content

• Total daily soil respiration

• CO₂ canopy absorption

• Changes in net carbon accumulation

Agrology’s real-time data revealed significant improvements in soil health in the regenerative organic blocks. The data revealed higher water-holding capacity, more stable soil and canopy temperatures, increased microbial activity, improved nutrient cycling, and greater soil carbon accumulation in the regenerative blocks. The data helps O’Neill differentiate its growing practices, elevate wine quality, and clearly understand and communicate the impacts of its regenerative organic program.