VinSight Software, an industry-specific package that provides
operational and winemaking process support as well as traceability
Madronich's commitment to high standards - and the environment
- is evident at every stage of the process, from the hand-picked
grapes that are processed in small batches to the 100 per cent
French oak barrels used for ageing to the planet-friendly geothermal
heating and cooling system and gravity-flow design.
"We're just trying to make the absolute best wine from
the vineyard," says Madronich.
Those high standards now include traceability, thanks to their
participation in the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and
Rural Affairs Traceability Pilot Project.
Traceability is designed to help food growers and processors
track vital information through each stage of production and
distribution.
The company installed VinSight Software, a package specifically
designed for wine producers that allows Flat Rock Cellars to
electronically track information from every step in the winemaking
process, from the incoming grapes to the bottling of the finished
vintage.
Should a problem ever arise with a case of wine, the computerized
system allows staff to quickly trace it back to the specific
batch and even the specific block of vines in the vineyard.
"It's about being proactive," Madronich explains.
"It gives you greater credibility with your customers and
better processes in your own organization."
Now instead of leafing through binders of handwritten notes
or scrolling through lengthy spreadsheets, winemaker Marlize
Beyers can call up all of the information regarding the production
of a specific vintage with a few keystrokes.
Not only is the system more efficient, it has the flexibility
to expand as Flat Rock Cellars grows. For example, the software
can be tied into the point-of-sale system in the winery's on-site
retail store, and a vineyard management module can be added.
The system can even be used with handheld PDAs (Personal Digital
Assistants) to gather data electronically.
However, the biggest benefit is the fact that Flat Rock Cellars
can now handle potential recall issues quickly, effectively
and professionally - an advantage that carries weight both with
existing clients and new prospects.
Currently the winery sells its products to restaurants and the
Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO), as well as directly
to consumers from its on-site store. Now Madronich is eyeing
other markets both in Canada and internationally, where traceability
is increasingly becoming a requirement.
"Traceability is a selling feature in terms of positioning
Flat Rock Cellars as we grow," he says. "It gives
me confidence that I have a leg up on the competition."
Traceability brings benefits:
By implementing a traceability system, Flat Rock
Cellars:
- Can track all the inputs that go into each barrel
- Can manage information and generate reports quickly and
easily
- Can efficiently and accurately carry out a product recall
- Has the ability to add automated data collection in the
vineyard and link to the winery's point of sale system in
the on-site retail store
Figure 1: Marlize Beyers,
Winemaker, Flat Rock Cellars. 
