The cost advantage of Sicilian wine farms

This study presents the results of research carried out on a Sicilian wine farm in order to demonstrate the economic convenience of the mechanized harvest. After the determination of the minimum optimal farm size that justifies the introduction of grape harvester in the farm, it has been estimated production cost and the relative profitability of two wine grape cultivars (Chardonnay and Nero d’Avola), comparing three hypotheses of harvest: manual, with farm property grape harvester and with rented grape harvester. The economic analysis shows that the introduction of the grape harvester in the wine farm is justified in large sized farms. However, even in small farms the use of rented grape harvester decreases the harvest costs, increasing profit and achieving a cost advantage for the wine-producer farm.