'Wine is bottled poetry' - Robert Louis Stevenson
For ages, wine has been in our culture. Not only for its taste and sensory perception but time and again it has proven its health benefits for humans. It provides a wide range of benefits including a healthy heart, reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease, mood-boosting, and may also help to keep diabetes at bay. Wine tasting in itself has grown to be an immense sector; the art of swirling, smelling, and tasting.
The world of wine has been evolving since forever and continues to do so. There are so many types of wine known to mankind: Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Syrah, and so on. The list continues to grow with passing time. One recent growing trend has been observed in the production of these wines- Biodynamic Wine. With around more than 700 producers worldwide, biodynamic wine although a small proportion of the total wine produced is gradually gaining popularity.
The concept of biodynamic farming dates back to as early as 1920s, by Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner. As the name suggests, Biodynamic Wines are made by putting Biodynamic Principles in use. The most put forward theory of biodynamic farming as given by Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association is “a spiritual-ethical-ecological approach to agriculture, gardens, food production, and nutrition.” With concepts of sustainability and organic farming growing fast, even wine-makers are believed to be moving towards the concept of biodynamics. Here, the land used for viticulture is not seen with the sole purpose of producing grapes, but as a part of a much larger ecosystem. Practices that enable it to become self-sustained are adopted. These practices include lesser use of fertilizers and chemicals, the use of animals for creating a more fertile land, and many more.
With such information about biodynamic wine, one can easily confuse it with organic wine. But no, they are quite different in a few aspects. Yes, they may be produced using fewer chemicals. But, there is one major aspect that comes into the production of biodynamic wines. Biodynamics is how everything in the universe connects and forms a big system. Each constitutes of this system including the celestial bodies, resonates, and finding the balance between this resonation is known as biodynamics.
Biodynamic farming makes use of the impact of lunar calendar and astrology on soil and plant development during farming. Based on this ‘Biodynamic calendar’, the farming period is classified into root days, flower days, fruit days, and leaf days coinciding with the four elements of earth i.e. fire, water, earth, and air. The fruit days are for harvesting, leaf days for watering, root days for pruning, and on flower days the vineyard is left as such. The overlapping of the farming practices with the rhythm of the earth and the cosmos has proven to have a positive benefit on the crop and also the animals of the farm. (Also, fruit days are perceived as the best days to have a wine. Read more at https://winefolly.com/lifestyle/biodynamic-calendar-fruit-day-wine-tasting/ )
For a wine to be labeled biodynamic it must meet with some standards. Demeter International is one non-profit organization that ensures that such standards are met for a company to claim that the product is biodynamic. Biodyvin is another such governing body that certifies European wineries. For such claims, the wine should be chemicals free and free from foreign addition of components like sugar or cultured yeast.
Moreover, biodynamic still lacks in some scientific grounding. This may be due to a lot of controversial techniques to apply biodynamic farming. One such highly controversial practice is the cow horn manure or ‘Preparation 500’. During winter, cow horns are filled with manure compost and buried. After winter, this manure is taken out and sprayed on the vineyard in the spring and autumn. This practice lacks a scientific explanation as to the specificity of the cow horn or the benefits of burying it into the soil. But it has been noted as ‘essential’ on the website Biodynamie Services. It is meant for better soil structuring, pH and microbial activity regulation, seed germination, and mineral dissolution (3).
Photograph by: www.vinepair.com
What is even more fascinating is that you can hardly tell any difference between a wine and a biodynamic wine. However, a biodynamically produced wine is much more probable to be of supreme quality due to the combined effects of the lunar system and the chemical-free practices. It is believed to have a better representation of the ‘terroir’ of that area. At present, these biodynamic wines are present in the United States, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Eastern Europe, Chile, Argentina, India, and Australia. Some examples of such collection are Querciabella Chianti Classico, Emiliana Coyam, Tablas Creek Vineyard Côtes de Tablas. Might want to pick up one during your next wine shopping!
References
1. Health benefits of drinking wine, www.eatingwell.com
2. Wine Knowledge Guide, www.getbackbar.com
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