 Biodynamic viticulture, like organic viticulture, does not use the herbicides or pesticides employed in conventional grape growing. By respecting the soil as a living element, it nurtures the vines, imbuing them with the mineral and organic trace elements that are such a rich part of it. Biodynamic viticulture goes one step further however, and takes into consideration the pattern of lunar and cosmic rhythms. The soil is seen not simply as a support for vine growing, but as an organism in its own right.
This approach to agriculture was very much common practice throughout Europe during the Iron Age, all but disappearing with the emergence of modern agriculture. It was Rudolph Steiner, an Austrian philanthropist who put biodynamics back on the map. The number of wine producers embracing biodynamy is constantly growing, especially in France and Italy.
If you would like to learn more about the principles of biodynamic viticulture, we recommend you visit the website of one of our producers, Domaine Montirius, as it contains some interesting in-depth detail. |
