Organic, Sustainable and Biodynamic Wines

Better farming makes better wine.  Period.  Yes, it really is that simple.

These aren’t just a series of buzzwords designed to make you feel warm
and fuzzy about your dollars “going green”;  these methods produce
longer lived, more expressive wines than their pesticide ridden counterparts.
For a definition of terms, please see below.

Responsible Wine Portfolio

*Small Winery Exemption approved

Sustainable Farming

Sustainable farming reflects an approach where a vineyard owner/manager treats any soil or plant related issues with the least amount of “inputs” possible. With sustainablility, problems are solved using the smallest footprint possible without eschewing any chemical methods of adjustment.  Several certifications exist here, such as Oregon’s pioneering LIVE and Salmon Safe.

Organic Farming

Organic farming is… well…just what the name implies, Organic.  No artificial means of adjustment or correction are used.   Pests are remedied by introducing natural predators or creating habitats to lure natural predators to feed in the vineyard.  Certifications such as CCOF are the rule here.

Biodynamic Farming

Biodynamic farming is perhaps the most holistic farming approach of all where the vineyard is treated like an ecosystem unto itself. Biodynamics is a school of environmental practice based upon the teachings of Rudolf Steiner.  Much like organics that relies on use of natural materials such as composts and manures, biodynamics incorporates vineyard practices performed in accordance with astronomical cycles.  Although it may sound like religious hokum (and many argue, with substantive complaint that it is) biodynamic practices produce some of the healthiest vineyards and most expressive wines imaginable. Certifications are abundant here as well, with Demeter, a European organization, being the gold standard.