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Many years ago we leased a vineyard that the previous tenant had no longer found worthwhile continuing to cultivate. As the vineyard was planted with Chardonnay, we were very interested in it. The first thing we had to do was hire a service provider with a bank mower on a narrow-track tractor to clear the banks of the many hedges and blackberry bushes. Once they had been properly trimmed, we could then maintain the banks by hand. Unfortunately, wage costs have risen sharply in recent years and the effort required for maintenance exceeds the yield. Furthermore, there has been a decline in wine consumption among consumers. Raising wine prices to offset the higher effort unfortunately does not work. In the end, in order to be sustainable, costs must be brought under control by increasing efficiency while maintaining high quality.