Dear reader and wine lover
Have you ever found yourself listening to a producer or wine merchant who raved on about the qualities of an organic or biodynamic wine using language such as: ‘natural’, ‘mineral’, ‘grown with energy lines and cosmic forces’, ‘harvested with the moon’ …?
Maybe you thought this sounded so great that you rushed out to buy the wine. Maybe you experienced strange sensations when you tasted it. Maybe, even, you slept better after drinking it, without any unpleasant surprises – such as a headache – the next morning.
Or, as poetic as all this talk may seem, did it come across as rather obscure, trite, downright confusing, and not really respectful of all the scientific advances of the last two centuries?
In short, maybe you decided it was just the latest sales talk for describing even more qualities of terroir.
Over the last few years, when talking with clients during tastings at Domaine Leflaive and at the Puligny-Montrachet École du Vin et des Terroirs, I have come to realise how much confusion surrounds biodynamics. Although this term has become quite fashionable in the wine world, few wine enthusiasts have a clear understanding of what biodynamics really is. Some have a completely false impression, and others have no idea at all.
The term biodynamic resonates strongly with our subconscious, and generally exposes a range of preconceived ideas, especially in our Western culture, and particularly in France.
It is for this reason that I wanted to write this book. I hope to provide you with an introduction to biodynamics which is brief and user-friendly in both its form and content, and which responds to the questions you might ask yourself.
It is not my intention to explore in-depth the philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, and even less to offer a grower’s handbook on biodynamic viticulture. Excellent works on this subject exist and are referenced in the bibliography (François Bouchet, Nicolas Joly, and Pierre Masson among others).
I have used clear language and sought to call on my knowledge of both science and the practice of biodynamic viticulture. The book reflects my current viewpoint and I assume full responsibility for it.
I want to thank the numerous wine enthusiasts around the world who have asked me the questions posed here, and who made me aware of the need for such a simple, comprehensible book. Although simplistic at times, it is intended to be a first step toward dispelling illusions about biodynamics. Afterwards, it is up to you to deepen your knowledge of the subject.
Antoine Lepetit de la Bigne