Bio-Dynamics explained

Bio-dynamics is not so much a cultivation method, more an agricultural philosophy that sets out to balance the relationship between the land and the plants grown on it. To this end it uses natural fertilisers and treatments and links cultivation techniques to terrestrial and solar cycles.

The founding father of bio-dynamics was Austrian philosopher–scientist Rudolf Steiner whose life’s aim was to bond the material and spiritual worlds through philosophy. He created the ‘spiritual science’ of anthroposophy, which he used as the basis of his school system that persists to this day. Steiner turned his attention to agriculture only late in life. His eight lectures, entitled Spiritual Foundations for the Renewal of Agriculture, were delivered in 1924 just a year before his death, but they set the pattern for bio-dynamic farming. Nevertheless there are a number of modern bio-dynamic growers who would distance themselves from Steiner’s beliefs and teachings.

Biodynamics considers the farm to be a living, self-sustaining system. It also takes into account the pattern of lunar and cosmic rhythms. Hence the soil is seen not simply as a substrate for plant growth, but as an organism in its own right. The very idea of using synthetic fertilizers or pesticides is anathema. Instead, they use a series of special preparations to enhance the life of the soil, which are applied at appropriate times in after consulting these seasonal rhythms. The same applies to working the land by hoeing and tilling. In bio-dynamics, whether you hoe in the morning or in the afternoon produces a different effect. In viticulture, the grape grower is the one who decides when to hoe arid work his fields in function of his soil. The organic preparations, (transformed vegetable, animal and mineral matter) many of which are seen by detractors as cranky-verging-on-witchcraft, are particularly essential as growing grapes does not afford opportunity for crop rotation.

Plant disease is seen as a symptom of a deeper malaise within the farm ‘organism’: The theory goes: “correct the problem in the system and the disease will right itself.” If the soil is properly balanced, the plant will protect itself against, or rather not attract, parasites However, the farmer may have to intervene to help keep the plants healthy by using herbal teas, decoctions or homeopathic plant dilutions and, if necessary, natural products such as Bordeaux mixture and brimstone flour.

Grape growing, as any other area of agriculture, is considered as a living organism. Cultivated soil is not a simple support for vines, but rather a living environment, a source of energy for plant life just like its outdoor envi-ronment. In this way, the vine – a median organism – creates and nourishes its soil in this inhabited and living environment that surrounds the root. The exchanges that take place between the root and foIiage systems enable the soil characteristics to be transferred to the grapes – increasing the quality of their flavor.

Bio-dynamic viticulture has greatly increased in popularity, particularly in Burgundy and Alsace. It’s difficult to get a complete listing as opinions on what is bio-dynamic vary amongst practitioners and while some who practice bio-dynamics make quite a noise about it, others just quietly go about their business. Nevertheless, a glance at this list should convince the drinker that bio-dynamics is here to stay!

BURGUNDY
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti (partial)
J.M. Brocard (partial)
Domaine Leflaive
Dominique et Catherine Derain
Thierry Guyot
Domaine Leroy

LOIRE
La Coulee de Serrant
Huet

RHONE
Chapoutier
Eric Saurel

ALSACE
Zind Humbrecht
Kreydenweiss

BORDEAUX
La Tour Figeac

This is only the tip of the iceberg. Add to these fine producers many other French producers, including a clutch of Champagne houses, many good Italians, and further interest in Spain and USA.
Nicholas Joly of La Coulee de Serrant and Michel Chapoutier are perhaps two of the most articulate and persuasive advocates of bio-dynamics and a recent tasting of Chapoutier’s range proved, to me at any rate that mumbo-jumbo it ain’t!