What exactly is "Biodynamic" wine? | Examiner.com
7/9/16, 3:19 PM
LEISURE / FOOD & DRINK / DRINKS See also: wine, organic, biodynamic, viticulture
What exactly is "Biodynamic" wine? December 15, 2014 12:01 PM MST
H. Larson
'Biodynamic! Organic! Sustainable!
If you drink wine, then you've probably noticed these terms cropping up with more and more frequency. "We grow our grapes with Biodynamic principles". "Our vineyards are sustainably http://www.examiner.com/article/what-exactly-is-biodynamic-wine
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What exactly is "Biodynamic" wine? | Examiner.com
7/9/16, 3:19 PM
farmed".
But what, exactly, does that all mean? Are these wines healthier, or different, or is it just a lot of jargon? Here's a quick 'primer' on these three philosophies. Sustainable Viticulture is widely practiced throughout the world's wine growing regions. The idea is to leave the earth the same, or hopefully better, than how you found it. There are no hard and fast rules, which leaves decisions on things like using herbicides, how often to water and other vineyard practices, up to each individual. When you visit a sustainable winery, you may notice little things like nesting boxes perched on lofty posts. These encourage birds of prey to make the vineyards their homes, where they can feast on pests like mice, rodents and rabbits! Much better than using toxic poisons. In the Spring, you'll find tall grasses and wildflowers growing between the rows of grapes. It's not that the vineyard manager forgot to tidy up! These are known as 'cover crops' and are a natural fertilizer, a home for beneficial insects and wildlife, plus these plants help to keep the topsoil in place during heavy rains. Social implications, like Global Warming and water conservations are just as important as economics when it comes to sustainable viticulture. Organic Viticulture takes sustainable to the next http://www.examiner.com/article/what-exactly-is-biodynamic-wine
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What exactly is "Biodynamic" wine? | Examiner.com
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level. In order to be Certified Organic, vineyard needs to go through a strict, three year program and be approved by the USDA's National Organic Program (NOP). As well as using natural predators and cover crops, like sustainable growers, organic vineyards are barred from using a long list of banned chemicals. Instead of 'illegal' fertilizers, for example, they may employ compost or manure. The standards in the United States are a little bit stricter than in Europe and other wine regions. That's why a French 'Organic' wine will be labeled "made from organic grapes' when it reaches your local wine shop. Biodynamic Viticulture is often considered kind of 'kooky' or 'out there' by the mainstream. Yes, it does involve things like cow horns and 'potions' but science is now validating its theories. Essentially, it's a holistic way of embracing the earth and all that grows in it. It's about the movement of the earth, the planets and the constellations. It's all about balance between the vine, man and the earthly environment - the vineyards and the winery - all one, interconnected entity. The theory originated back in the early 1920's and regulates every single task involved in the growing of grapes and wine production. Everything revolves around a special calendar that declares days, and times of day, as either flower, fruit, root or leaf (co-inciding with the four elements of earth, water, air, and fire). Much like the good old Farmers Almanac, certain days are http://www.examiner.com/article/what-exactly-is-biodynamic-wine
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What exactly is "Biodynamic" wine? | Examiner.com
7/9/16, 3:19 PM
better for certain jobs, like pruning or picking. Similar to organic, chemicals are not allowed. Instead, special preparations are made by either placing manure (often from the winery's own animals) inside of cows horns and burying them over the winter. The contents are then used as a spray in the vineyard. A variety of tinctures are made from flowers like Yarrow, Stinging Nettles, or Chamomille. These are diluted in a special machine known as a 'Dynamiter'. This is another aspect of Biodynamics that makes some roll their eyes, but proponents swear by the system. The machine, which looks like a barrel with a motorized paddle in the bottom, mixes the preparations with water creating a vortex or 'chaos'. The idea behind this is that water has memory, so by moving the water you mingle its energy with that of the planets and the final solution will transmit these 'positive vibrations' when it's sprayed in the vineyard. There are several regulatory bodies for Biodynamics: Demeter International and Biodyvin for European wineries. A vineyard must be Organic for at least four years before approval and with Biodyvin, the philosophy extends into the winemaker's cellar. Their decree: "Nothing added, Nothing taken out, Nothing changed." Science is now telling us that the soils in biodynamic vineyards are more 'alive' and of higher quality, containing a wider variety of organic matter and nutrients. Does this transfer to the wines? Only time, and perhaps the stars, will http://www.examiner.com/article/what-exactly-is-biodynamic-wine
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What exactly is "Biodynamic" wine? | Examiner.com
7/9/16, 3:19 PM
tell. Learn more about Biodynamic Wines
Hilarie Larson
San Diego Wine Travel Examiner
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