Questions on biodynamics
A leading expert on biodynamics kindly agreed to answer some queries I had about this unusual but increasingly important way of growing wine grapes. Here are the 12 questions I sent him. Have you got any you'd like to add to the list?- Is 'naturalness' a valid and important concept in wine?
- Does the BD approach follow through from the vineyard to impact what goes on in the cellar?
- Is there a benefit to BD over what can be achieved by organics plus composting? If so, what?
- Are there elements of BD that people can adopt and see benefit from without taking on board the whole package of treatments and timings?
- How did you first get into BD?
- How much efficacy can people achieve with just the treatments and not the timings?
- What do you think about Nicolas Joly's views on the effects of electrical currents on wines?
- Is biodynamics metaphysical, involving a realm outside the scope of scientific physical measurement?
- Is BD practical for larger companies?
- What about BD in vineyards where the grower only owns a small section, such as the isolated blocks of vines owned by growers in the top vineyards of the Mosel?
- Do you see any value in trying to reconcile conventional viticulture with BD viticulture?
- If a top Bordeaux property came to you and asked about implementing BD, where would you start them off?
Labels: biodynamics, viticulture
posted by Jamie @ 1:18 PM
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7 Comments:
Can an irrigated vineyard really be biodynamic?
Greetings!
Row planted mono crops are efficient and enable systematic vineyard work. It seems to me though that to be truly biodynamic, a site would need to be planted in some way that more resembled nature.
Vines scattered and in groups among say, fruit trees.
Less efficient and more labor intensive but certainly more like nature. Wouldn't this kind of approach further integrate and balance the interactions of the sites ecosystem? Enhancing biodynamism?
Do you have any quantifiable data about carbon footprint? Specifically, is there any advantage in biodynamic practice than organic practice?
What scientific research has been done into the efficacy of biodynamics?
Has anyone ever planted say a field with odd rows biodynamic, even rows just organic and composting, made the wines from both, then done a double blind tasting with say 10 critics expressing a preference?
Just come back from Paul Dolan's Dark Horse Vineyards/Ranch in Mendocino - have sent the link to them for more comments - we have to organise a trip out there - perhaps August?
Jamie
Hope to see you at the Renaissance des Appellation tasting at Vinexpo next week?
Two questions:
I am interested to hear that, according to many journalist nowadays, that it is considered better to taste wine in a fruit day (when the moon is passing in front of a "fruit" constellation) How would a biodynamic expert consider explaining this belief?
As well, if the quartz preparation 501 can have a positive influence on seed enhancenment (ripening)post veraison, is it possible to measure an increase in phenolic compounds found in juice and the resulting anti-oxidant (resveritrol) properties of that wine?
James Millton
New Zealand
The interview is now on the main wineanorak site, part of the series on biodynamics
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