Burgundy winemakers are looking to preserve the quality of their vintages by introducing a blanket ban on machine harvesting.

Mechanised grape pickers will be banned for the five grands crus monopoles immediately, meaning that the upcoming 2011 Burgundy harvest will have to be done by hand.

A complete ban is then expected to be brought in across all grand cru vineyards by 2014, Decanter reports.

Growers in the region feel that harvesting machines adversely affect the quality of the wine produced, and traditional hand picking, although more costly, is better for the region as a whole.

Louis Michel Liger-Belair of Domaine Comte Liger-Belair and president of the Union of Burgundy Grands Crus told Decanter that it is important for the future of the region to take a stand on harvesting techniques.

"There are five per cent of the grands crus that use machines and it gives us a bad image. Hand harvesting does cost a bit more but the quality is much better," he explained.

However, Sylvain Pitiot of Clos de Tart revealed that the decision was not agreed unanimously, adding: "The prohibition of machine harvesters for all grands crus is a wish of the majority of our members but not everyone.

"In fact, several grands crus use machine harvesters, notably in Corton and especially in Chablis."

Other changes to be implemented in Burgundy include a reduction in the maximum yield per hectare, while varietal wine must include 95 per cent of the stated variety, as opposed to the 85 per cent standard currently used.

While Burgundy eschews modern technology in its winemaking, Bordeaux appears to be embracing it.

It was recently revealed that Bordeaux vineyards are using satellite technology to generate a library of photographs documenting the growth stages of their vines.

This information can then be used to pinpoint the ideal time for harvesting to begin.