Biodynamic…don’t get it confused with Organic
If you are a real afficianado of the environment then Demeter Biodynamic Certification is the gold standard. In Sonoma and Napa Counties there are about 22 wineries that have a Biodynamic Certification. The count can be misleading because the Biodynamic Certification is more about the vineyards-the source of the grapes. If a winery owns vineyards that is still all included in the 22.
So, what is Biodynamic Certification all about? Demeter, was the very first ecological label for organically produced foods, and remains the only internationally recognized Biodynamic certifier. It isn’t Organic and it isn’t about Green/Sustainable. Biodynamic agriculture goes beyond organic, it envisions the vineyard as a self-contained and self-sustaining organism. Biodynamic vineyards avoid chemical pesticides and fertilizers, utilize compost and cover crops, and set aside a minimum of 10% of their total acreage for biodiversity-water, bugs plants, and animals. The entire vineyard, must be certified and the vineyards and facilities are inspected annually. In order for a wine to bear the Demeter logo it must be made with certified Biodynamic® ingredients and meet strict processing standards to ensure the purest possible wine.
Next question: Can you taste the difference in wine produced from a Biodynamic Vineyard and Winery? Short answer is probably not. Reason being is that Biodynamics is about the terroir. If you think pesticides, fertalizers and soil supplements don’t work their way into the fruit of the vine then the absence of these things will be what you get with Biodynamicly produced wine. Of course, vintage and winemakers tinkering will change the wine even more.
Then, how do grage growers protect their investment in the grape? They use the natural occurrance of ‘good’ bug to prey on the ‘bad’ bug. They use natural herbs to spray for diseases and the fertilize with natural compostings. It all works together for the good.
Look for a Biodynamic logo on the bottle and taste for yourself. The Biodynamic farming (and vineyards are all about farming) process does not add an appreciable cost to the wine. The Demeter Biodynamic Certification is .5% on 1% of gross sales for the certification. The farming expense seems to be a bit of a push.