The Best Two-Way Radios for Wineries
If you go out and buy the first radio that you see for your team, you might be in for a rude awakening. Static, poor battery life, messages that sound like a drive-through speaker...
That’s why you need a quality radio tailored to your winery, and we’ve got you covered!
We don't want you to buy any radio just because you like the name or the price. We want you to make an educated decision and purchase the perfect radio within the scope of your needs, staff, and location.
We’ve sold thousands of radios and have compiled all that knowledge right here in this brief guide.
What do you need in a walkie talkie for wineries?
The vineyard manager is out in the north field waiting on a status update for the grape crusher, but no one’s picking up their phone...
A pallet of bottles just arrived at the bottling line—30 minutes early—and there’s no forklift in sight to move it...
Meanwhile, the tasting room is slammed with a surprise tour group, and the staff is scrambling to restock wine and glassware. Everyone’s doing their part, but no one is connected.
These are all common issues in a winery - and they can easily be solved with clear, quality two-way radios.
Let's walk through some important components when comparing radios....
Coverage Considerations
When choosing two-way radios for your winery, it is important to match radio power and coverage of your building size and layout.
Selecting a radio that is too powerful for your needs can lead to overpaying, while choosing one with insufficient coverage may result in poor quality and dead zones.
For small wineries, 1 to 2 watts of power will do the trick - you can get from 100k - 200k sqft of coverage.
Larger wineries (or multiple buildings), covering up to 350,000 square feet, require more powerful radios in the 3-4 watt range on analog (or 1 watt on digital) that can transmit clearly through walls and across larger distances.
You also need to take obstructions and building materials into account. If you have thick concrete walls, it may be necessary to go 1-watt stronger.
For unlimited coverage, across multiple locations, consider radios that use LTE and Wi-Fi, like the Motorola WAVE PTX series.
Number of Channels Needed
Channels help segment team conversations, to simplify radio chatter.
Recommended groups for Wineries:
- Vineyard Operations – For crews handling pruning, harvesting, irrigation, and fieldwork.
- Cellar Team – For communication around crushing, fermentation, barrel management, and lab updates.
- Bottling & Packaging – To coordinate deliveries, inventory, and the bottling line.
- Tasting Room & Events – For front-of-house staff managing guest flow, tours, and private events.
- Management/Emergency – A reserved channel for supervisors, key updates, or urgent issues.
Easy breezy. That’s concise and direct communication.
Channels can also be used to set up private conversations: “Sarah, call Tom on channel two.”
Sarah and Tom can then have an in-depth conversation over the radio without bothering the rest of the staff.
Quality Brands Make a Difference
You need a radio that is not going to fall apart within a year. You need one that will last so you’re not throwing away money.
Motorola and Kenwood two-way Radios are the most quality brands on the market because they are purpose-built for reliable communication with a durable build.
Designed to be easy to use and intuitive their radio series are affordable, cost-effective and eliminate monthly cell phone plans.
Tested for 5 years of field use, Motorola and Kenwood make sure you see a return on your investment.
Not to mention the included manufacturer warranty (1-3 years depending on model).
What features make a great winery radio?
- Long Battery Life – Winery teams are often on the move all day, especially during harvest season. A radio that lasts 12+ hours per charge is essential.
- Durability – Radios should be rugged enough to handle drops, dust, moisture, and the occasional wine spill.
- Clear Audio – Whether you're in the echoey barrel room or out in the wind-blown vineyard, crisp, reliable sound is a must.
- Hands-Free Options – Compatible earpieces or headsets allow workers to stay connected while using both hands.
- Long Range – A strong signal that covers the entire property, from the farthest row of vines to the tasting room, without dead zones.
- Channel Capacity – Multiple channels help teams divide communication by department without cross-talk.
- Emergency Alert – A one-touch alert button can quickly call for help if there’s an accident or safety concern.
Our Top Two-Way Radio Picks for Wineries
To help you with your selection, we've highlighted several different models below that are perfect for _ of every size.
These recommendations come from our own experience working with thousands of these radios. Each one has a rock-solid history and great reputation.
Small Winery
For typical tasting room layouts, you’ll want a compact and lightweight radio that is discreet and easy to carry. Offering modest power and 1 to a handful of channels, you will have enough groups to keep operations running smoothly.
|
Lightweight, discreet, and hands-free with excellent audio clarity.
|
 |
The Motorola CLPe series has the distinction of being the smallest and lightest series on our list at only 2.38 ounces. The Motorola CLP1080e is the most advanced CLPe radio that we carry.
By advanced, we mean that this radio has eight channels to segment a mid-size staff (or there is a 1 channel version)..
It’s a UHF radio that works really well both indoors and outside with a 10 floor indoor range and one mile outdoors.
This series comes with a discreet earpiece and belt holster and fits perfectly on most uniforms.
The 1080e has a 12-hour battery life and is simple to use thanks to the large central PTT button.
Antimicrobial properties are included in the casing for disease control, so germs aren’t going to spread.
This device is also repeater capable in case you need to double its range.
|
User-friendly with reliable coverage and extended battery life.
|
 |
The Motorola CLS1410 lives up to its name. CLS stands for Clear, Light, and Simple, and that’s what you’re getting with this device.
This is a UHF Radio with four channels (or this 1 channel version), which will allow you to divide your staff and give the managers their own private channel.
It has 15 floors of indoor range with up to two miles of clear communication outside.
This device features Audible Call Alerts and Vibracall technology.
It’s also an easy device to set up thanks to simplified cloning.
Honorable Mention
|
Compact and powerful. Easy to use and great battery life.
|
 |
Larger Wineries – With Vineyard
|
Ultra-slim, durable, and superior audio clarity for larger coverage needs.
|
 |
Honorable Mention:
|
 |
Best Nationwide Coverage (LTE & Wi-Fi Enabled)
|
Ideal for operations across multiple locations, cities or states.
|
 |
Request a Quote for Bulk Purchases
Need to equip your team? We want to help!
Make sure to request a quote for our best possible pricing.
We are here for you!
If you have any questions on which radio is right for your winery – do not hesitate to reach out to our support team.
We have a very knowledgeable staff with over 25 years of experience in the two-way radio industry that can answer all your questions.
You can’t get rid of us that easily after purchase - we include lifetime tech support to be there for you every step of the way!