What exactly is biodynamic wine? This completely organic wine is great and somewhat strange. Here, we explain what biodynamic wines are, and tell you how they are made and how they taste.
First, you got to know the meaning of Biodynamics
The concept behind biodynamics is that everything in the universe is interconnected and emits a resonance or “vibration”. The interconnectedness of everything even includes celestial bodies such as the moon, planets and stars. Biodynamic viticulture is the practice of balancing this resonance between the vine, man, the earth and the stars. In essence, biodynamics is a holistic view of agriculture.
Biodynamic farming or agriculture is exceptionally old.
The concept of biodynamics began in the 1920s with an Austrian philosopher named Rudolph Steiner. It is a holistic, homeopathic form of agriculture that, of course, also includes viticulture. It is the oldest anti-chemical farming movement that predates the creation of organic farming by about twenty years.
If you think about it, there is really nothing “new” behind the theory of biodynamics. From the ancient Greeks and Egyptians to the trusty “Farmer’s Almanac,” which is the bible of traditional American agriculture, mankind has looked to the celestial sky for guidance.
You can say a wine is biodynamic if
Biodynamics takes place primarily in the vineyard, even before the wine is made. All tasks, from planting and pruning to harvesting, are regulated by a special biodynamic calendar. The calendar was initially conceived by the “high priestess” of biodynamics, Maria Thun, who separated the days into four classifications: root, natural product, blossom and leaf days.
Each day of the biodynamic calendar coincides with one of the four classical elements of Earth, Fire, Air and Water that have been used since before Plato’s time:
– Fruit days: The best days for grape harvesting.
– Days of the root: Ideal days for pruning.
– Days of the flower: Leave the vineyard alone on these days
– Days of the leaf: Ideal days for watering plants.
For example, you would never want to harvest on a Leaf Day because Leaf Days correlate with Elemental Water and you would end up picking rotten, waterlogged grapes.
In addition to the biodynamic calendar, no chemicals or “manufactured” additions (such as commercial yeast) are allowed in biodynamic wine. Instead, winegrowers make special compost preparations with natural ingredients to strengthen their vineyards.
How to find biodynamic wines
Biodynamic wines must be certified. The strict rules and regulations are overseen by two governing bodies: Demeter International and Biodyvin, which certifies only 100 European wineries.
Do biodynamic wines taste different?
No. Although some biodynamic producers make a different style of wine that focuses more on “Secondary Flavors” (i.e. yeast flavors).
How many biodynamic wine producers are there?
There are just over 620 biodynamic wine producers in the world.
You can find biodynamic wines in the United States, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Eastern Europe, Chile, Argentina, India and Australia. Those who believe in this philosophy believe that wines are more characteristic of the “terroir” where they originate. The wines are often described as balanced and age the same as “standard” wines.
Biodynamic wine versus organic wine
The two styles of wines stay away from the utilization of manufactured herbicides and pesticides in the grape plantation. Notwithstanding, that is where the similitudes end. In organic wine production, there are a number of added sulfites and additional yeast compounds that winemakers can add to the wine.
European regulations stipulate that organic dry red wine can have up to 100 milligrams of sulfites per liter and organic dry white or rosé wine can have up to 150 milligrams. Organic wine can also have yeast, sugar and tartaric acid added during fermentation to help manipulate the result or flavor profile of the wine.
We are not saying that organic wine is bad. Quite the contrary. Organic wine has far fewer preservatives and added extras than conventional wine. So we encourage you to drink more organic wine, as it has considerable health benefits.
Biodynamics goes one step further than organic farming. The principles of biodynamic agriculture imply that winegrowers cannot add any synthetic agents in the grape growing process, but it also states that in the winemaking process they cannot add foreign agents, such as yeasts or additional acids. This ensures that the wine is a true representation of the vineyard.
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Lunar patterns are the gravitational pull of the moon on the earth, specifically the tides. This can have a significant impact on the growth of plants and organisms. Biodynamic farmers believe there is a clear link between the moon and the growth of plant life, so they prune their vines and bottle their wine according to lunar patterns.
How does a biodynamic wine taste?
Many wine lovers believe that these wines taste better. With biodynamic and natural wine, you get a true reflection of what the grapes have produced, not something manipulated to appease a broad spectrum of palates. It better represents the terroir of the area.
If you have never tasted a natural/biodynamic wine, it is easy to find it “strange” at first. This is because they may smell or look a little different from conventional wines. Sometimes, biodynamic wines can look a bit cloudy. If this is the case, it is most likely that they are not filtered and that no fining agents have been used in their production.
Biodynamic wines usually have a pleasant aroma. They are very full and fruity, because there are no extraneous elements that compromise the aromas. We believe this brings more complexity to the wine than conventional wines, and will almost certainly be more intriguing and enjoyable.
What do the experts say?
Peter Hahn of Clos de la Meslerie summed up the difference between organic and conventional wines. He said, “Today, much of the wine we drink is driven by technology, so it’s a standardized process and the wine is made in the winery rather than in the vineyard. For me, natural wines are about the vineyard and not the winery. It’s about the grapes.
Fortune magazine organized a blind tasting of 10 biodynamic wines against their conventional counterparts. The jury consisted of a master winemaker and head sommeliers. They concluded that “overall, the biodynamic wines had better expressions of terroir, the way a wine can represent its specific place of origin in its aroma, flavor, and texture.”
How do you know if a wine is biodynamic?
There are a lot of different certifications that dictate whether a wine is biodynamic, organic, and sustainable. It can be a bit confusing if you don’t know what to look for. Below are the logos to look out for.
Demeter is a German-based organization that provides certifications for agricultural products that follow biodynamic principles. They focus on strengthening the life within the soil and produce. They chose the name Demeter in homage to “Demeter,” the Greek goddess of grain and fertility.
If you see a bottle of wine with the Demeter logo on it, you can guarantee that it is a biodynamically grown wine.
Contact us if you want to know more about the best biodynamic wines!