Welcome to the second part of our series on organic and biodynamic wine. In part one we looked at what organic wine actually is. Now we go a step further and look at what many feel is the most mysterious corner of the wine world: biodynamic growing.
Biodynamics shares quite a lot with organic farming, but the thinking behind it goes deeper. Here you do not see the vineyard as a single crop, but as a whole little cycle, where soil, plants, animals and rhythms are connected. Let us unpack it calmly, so you can form your own opinion.
What you will learn
- What lies behind the thinking in biodynamic growing
- The key principles the winegrower works by in the vineyard
- How biodynamics differs from ordinary organic farming
- What it all can mean for the wine in your glass
What biodynamic wine is
Biodynamic wine is first and foremost grown without synthetic sprays and artificial fertiliser, just like organic wine. But where organic farming is largely about what you refrain from using, biodynamics adds something on top: an idea that the vineyard is a living whole, where everything has to work together.
The idea is that a healthy vineyard does not need much help from outside if the soil itself is in balance. A lush microlife in the soil, plants between the rows, perhaps animals on the property and an attention to the rhythms of the year should together make the vine robust enough to handle most things itself. The goal is a vineyard that is as far as possible self-sufficient, rather than a vineyard that is constantly corrected with added inputs.
In practice this means that the biodynamic winegrower thinks long term. It is less about saving a single harvest and more about building soil and plants that grow stronger year by year.
The principles in the vineyard
Although biodynamics can sound abstract, much of the work is quite down to earth and resembles good, old-fashioned farming sense.
Living soil
The core is the health of the soil. A soil with rich microlife helps the vine take up nutrients and water, and it supports a deep, healthy root. Here biodynamics builds on something we know from basic viticulture: that the soil's structure, drainage and nutrient content (nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and more) are decisive for how the grapes ripen. Instead of artificial fertiliser, you use compost and natural preparations to nourish the soil.
Diversity and balance
In the vineyard you often work with planting between the rows, which retains moisture, prevents erosion and provides shelter for insects and microlife. The thinking is that a diverse environment keeps pests and diseases in check on its own, so you avoid spraying preventively.
Rhythms and timing
The most talked about, and the most debated, aspect of biodynamics is that some of the work is planned according to natural cycles, among other things the rhythm of the moon. Pruning, soil work and certain treatments are placed at particular times. Whatever you think of the basic idea, it often leads to a winegrower who is very close to their plants and knows the vineyard's annual cycle intimately, from winter rest through budbreak and flowering to véraison and harvest.
Biodynamics vs. organic
It is easy to mix up the two concepts, so let us make the difference clear.
Organic farming sets a framework for what may and may not go into the vineyard. No synthetic sprays, no artificial fertiliser. It is a rule-based approach with a focus on removing the unwanted.
Biodynamics meets most of the same requirements, but adds a holistic way of thinking. The vineyard is seen as one coherent cycle, and the work is governed not only by what you refrain from, but also by how you actively build balance, and when the individual tasks are carried out. In other words:
- Organic farming is above all about opting out of synthetic inputs.
- Biodynamics includes that same opting out, but adds a philosophy and a particular timing on top.
Both approaches can be certified, and a biodynamic wine will in practice often also meet organic requirements. If you want to dive into what the various labels actually mean, you can read more in the part on labels and certifications.
What it means for the wine
Here it is important to be honest: you cannot taste that a wine is biodynamic. There is no particular biodynamic flavour, and two biodynamic wines from different regions can taste vastly different.
What biodynamics can do is support healthy grapes and a living soil, and many winegrowers find that it gives wines with clear expression and good balance. When you work so close to the vineyard and keep the yield in check, the grapes often get the calm to develop aroma and concentration. But that kind of thing depends just as much on terroir, grape variety, the weather in the individual year and on how the wine is made in the cellar.
In short, biodynamics is a way of growing, not a guarantee of a particular style or quality. It tells you something about the winegrower's approach and care, but your own taste still decides whether the wine is something for you. If you are curious about whether the growing method can be noticed in the glass at all, we take a closer look at it in Does organic wine taste different?.
In short
- Biodynamic wine is grown without synthetic sprays and artificial fertiliser, just like organic wine.
- The thinking is one of wholeness: the vineyard is seen as a living cycle that should ideally be as self-sufficient as possible.
- In the vineyard you work with living soil, diversity between the rows and a timing that often follows natural rhythms.
- The difference from organic farming is above all the holistic thinking and the active work with balance and timing.
- You cannot taste that a wine is biodynamic. Taste, style and quality depend on many factors.
Frequently asked questions
Is biodynamic wine always organic too?
In practice, biodynamic wines often meet the same requirements as organic ones, because they also do not use synthetic sprays or artificial fertiliser. Biodynamics simply adds a holistic philosophy and a particular timing on top. If you want to be sure, you can look for certifications on the label.
Can you taste the difference between biodynamic and conventional wine?
No, there is no special biodynamic flavour. The growing method can support healthy grapes and living soil, but the taste is shaped just as much by terroir, grape variety, vintage and the work in the cellar.
Ready for the next step?
Now you have got hold of the thinking behind biodynamics and the difference from organic farming. In the next part we look at a related concept that is often mentioned in the same breath, namely Natural wine: low-intervention wine, where the focus shifts from the vineyard and into the cellar.
Take your time to explore our selection along the way, and remember that the best pairing is always the wine you like with the food you like. Here is to curiosity.