There’s a new AI in town that can literally sniff out issues.
This week, Moët Hennessy, the luxury champagne and liquor label, revealed its plan to harness artificial intelligence to tackle a troublesome fungus that threatens grape crops.
By utilizing advanced sensing technology, researchers have developed an AI model capable of identifying grapevine emissions that winemakers have previously left undetected during the early growing stages.
The mold emits what has been described as a “fresh mushroom aroma,” which, according to the International Viticulture and Enology Society, is deemed “unacceptable” in both dry and sparkling wines.
Since about 2005, winemakers in France’s Champagne region have been battling this fungus, which is frustratingly hard to catch until the grapes are well on their way to being turned into champagne.
Moët Hennessy, a part of the luxury French conglomerate LVMH, has reportedly spent millions of euros trying to find a solution. Manual Reman, an R&D staff member at the company, shared these details with the Wall Street Journal.
The brand has teamed up with Analog Devices, an engineering firm, as well as researchers from the University of California, Davis, to develop this innovative AI technology.
While some connoisseurs might insist that “true” champagne can only originate from France, winemakers in California face similar challenges with this fungus.
In fact, the problem cost California around $4 billion in 2020, according to UC Davis researcher Ben Montpetit.
This new tech draws from research conducted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where scientists created something called “smellnet” in 2025. By utilizing portable gas and chemical sensors, they digitized specific aromas and built a database of smells that can guide AI in recognizing harmful odors like the aforementioned fungus.
The wine industry, particularly in Champagne, has had a particularly tough year. Record-breaking heatwaves this past summer have resulted in higher alcohol content in wines, as noted by BBC. Additionally, devastating wildfires caused significant damage to crops.
Meanwhile, California has also felt the strain, with imports of alcoholic beverages to Canada plunging by 95% over the year ending in July, as per the Sacramento Bee. Some families are reportedly having to sell their wineries due to these steep losses.
