WHAT ARE BIODYNAMIC & ORGANIC WINES?
Organic and biodynamically farmed wines are an honest and true expression of the soil and climate from which they come. These wines deliver the purest sense of “terroir” from vine to glass, without the use of artificial fertilizers, pesticides and chemicals.
Biodynamics is based partially on a series of lectures given in the 1920s by Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner. It is now a growing agricultural movement both in the U.S. and internationally, which takes organics one step further by utilizing and interrelating every aspect of the farm's parts, importing nothing from the outside, and circulating energy only from within the living dynamics of the farm itself. This holistic approach considers the life force of the farm as an ecological whole (vines, soil, insects, flora, and fauna), in addition to celestial influences such as the moon and stars. Like organic farmers, biodynamic growers enrich their soil without artificial fertilizers or pesticides, however they differ in that they believe that agriculture can be aligned with the forces of the cosmos. Techniques such as harvesting during particular lunar phases and treating the vines with homeopathic mixtures are all common practice. Unlike their new world counterparts, many European farmers have handed these practices down through the generations. Now, this "fringe" farming practice has taken root into the mainstream and is fast becoming a buzzword in the world of wine. At a time when the environment is a major concern, the sustainability of biodynamic farming regenerates the vitality of the earth. Biodynamic viticulture’s respect for the earth's resources and raw materials is a way to consciously preserve the earth for future generations to come.
The term ‘biodynamic' has been registered as a trademark of Demeter, the main association of farmers founded in 1928 that promote Rudolph Steiner’s ideas and farming practices. Demeter International and Demeter USA (www.demeter-usa.org) as well as other certifying organizations (such as France's Biodyvin) certify farmers that meet Demeter's standards.
Many farms/vineyards using methods similar to biodynamics, however, are not certified because it is costly for them to do so, and by their nature are rebellious against “certified” institutions, since these are the same practices their families have been handing down for generations. We offer wines that are both certified and uncertified as long as they parallel the commonly-accepted practices of biodynamic farming.
There are two classifications of organic wines. ‘Organic’, and wines made from ‘organically grown grapes’. ‘Organic’ wines are produced from certified, organically grown grapes, and contain no additional sulfites or chemicals in the finished wine. Unfortunately, by not using any sulfites to preserve and protect the wine, it can easily oxidize and re-ferment in the bottle. This is extremely challenging to the winemaker and thus is why there are very few purely organic wines on the market. Most of the wines we will bring to you are wines farmed from “organically grown grapes”. This means the vineyard from which the grapes come is farmed without the use of synthetic fertilizers and conventional pesticides, applying only environmentally friendly practices and materials to grow the grapes. This involves the development and maintenance of a sustainable vineyard system, which relies on natural, non-toxic processes for nutrients, pest control, disease, and weed management, while still minimizing impact on the land
A brief overview of Organic and Biodynamically farmed viticulture.
Biodynamics is based partially on a series of lectures given in the 1920s by Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner. It is now a growing agricultural movement both in the U.S. and internationally, which takes organics one step further by utilizing and interrelating every aspect of the farm's parts, importing nothing from the outside, and circulating energy only from within the living dynamics of the farm itself. This holistic approach considers the life force of the farm as an ecological whole (vines, soil, insects, flora, and fauna), in addition to celestial influences such as the moon and stars. Like organic farmers, biodynamic growers enrich their soil without artificial fertilizers or pesticides, however they differ in that they believe that agriculture can be aligned with the forces of the cosmos. Techniques such as harvesting during particular lunar phases and treating the vines with homeopathic mixtures are all common practice. Unlike their new world counterparts, many European farmers have handed these practices down through the generations. Now, this "fringe" farming practice has taken root into the mainstream and is fast becoming a buzzword in the world of wine. At a time when the environment is a major concern, the sustainability of biodynamic farming regenerates the vitality of the earth. Biodynamic viticulture’s respect for the earth's resources and raw materials is a way to consciously preserve the earth for future generations to come.
The term ‘biodynamic' has been registered as a trademark of Demeter, the main association of farmers founded in 1928 that promote Rudolph Steiner’s ideas and farming practices. Demeter International and Demeter USA (www.demeter-usa.org) as well as other certifying organizations (such as France's Biodyvin) certify farmers that meet Demeter's standards.
Many farms/vineyards using methods similar to biodynamics, however, are not certified because it is costly for them to do so, and by their nature are rebellious against “certified” institutions, since these are the same practices their families have been handing down for generations. We offer wines that are both certified and uncertified as long as they parallel the commonly-accepted practices of biodynamic farming.
There are two classifications of organic wines. ‘Organic’, and wines made from ‘organically grown grapes’. ‘Organic’ wines are produced from certified, organically grown grapes, and contain no additional sulfites or chemicals in the finished wine. Unfortunately, by not using any sulfites to preserve and protect the wine, it can easily oxidize and re-ferment in the bottle. This is extremely challenging to the winemaker and thus is why there are very few purely organic wines on the market. Most of the wines we will bring to you are wines farmed from “organically grown grapes”. This means the vineyard from which the grapes come is farmed without the use of synthetic fertilizers and conventional pesticides, applying only environmentally friendly practices and materials to grow the grapes. This involves the development and maintenance of a sustainable vineyard system, which relies on natural, non-toxic processes for nutrients, pest control, disease, and weed management, while still minimizing impact on the land
