BIODYNAMIC AGRICULTURE

26/03/2024
The secrets of biodynamic viticulture

BIODYNAMIC AGRICULTURE

Mysticism or the secret to raising wine quality, strengthening the wine ecosystem and creating a lasting legacy?

 

In today's article we are going to talk about biodynamic agriculture through the eyes and words of Ton Mata, director of a renowned winery with a hundred years of history in the Penedes region.

 

We are talking about  Recaredo.

 

A while ago, we interviewed Ton for an event organized by E2G that dealt with the challenges of the wine industry in the face of the new climate reality. The event was called Wine in a Warming World and you can watch the interviews here.

 

Today we want to talk about the main topic of the interview with Ton Mata; biodynamic agriculture on which they base the cultivation of their vines, the work of the land and even their company and team philosophy.

 

At a time when authenticity and sustainability are becoming not only values, but imperatives within the wine industry, it is important to address, communicate and give visibility to issues that provide possible solutions to the challenges of the sector.

 

What is biodynamic agriculture?

A type of conscious agriculture that is committed to more sustainable and harmonious agricultural practices with the environment. 

 

This agricultural philosophy was originated by Rudolf Steiner in the first half of the 20th century, focusing on the vineyard as a living, holistic organism, where every element, from plants to soil to animals, interacts in a synergy that fosters a vibrant, self-sustaining ecosystem.

 

At the heart of biodynamic viticulture is a deep respect for natural and cosmic cycles, considering the astral and lunar influences on the vital processes of plants. 

 

Ton Mata told us that one of the best and most accurate descriptions he had heard of biodynamic agriculture was this: "It's simply making things easy for nature to act".

 

The truth is that it sounds romantic, almost like poetry, but how to implement this complex task into practice?

 

Here are some of the ways Ton shared with us in the interview.

 

Pasturing in the vineyard
Pasturing in the vineyard

🍇 Green Roofs

For Recardo, marking terroir wines is one of its pillars as a winery and as a brand. And to produce terroir wines, understanding terroir as being able to show the landscape, soil, climate, and variety, you first need this landscape.

 

One of the ways of working, caring for and protecting the landscape (e.g. from groundwater) is through green roofs. More canopies mean more life, more worms, more aerated soil and therefore deeper roots.

 

🍇 Phytotherapy

Basically, plants that help other plants.

 

Biodynamic preparations, made from herbs, minerals and composted manure, play a crucial role in soil and plant nutrition. These preparations are applied in homeopathic doses to stimulate soil life, strengthen the vine against pests and diseases, and improve the quality and characterization of the grapes, thus reflecting the essence of their environment.

 

🍇 Protection of the flora and fauna of the environment.

The integration of intercropping, trees, and the preservation of natural habitats for insects, mammals and wildlife, not only enriches the health of the ecosystem, but also strengthens the resilience of the vineyards to climatic adversities and reduces the need for chemical interventions.

 

The presence of animals helps to create natural compost and keep the soil alive. It is a circle where each life that ends gives birth to a new one.

 

To understand the importance of this, Ton told us which two animals are Recaredo's favorite.

 

One is wild boar, which generates droppings that favor natural composting.

 

And the other is the bat.

 

This small nocturnal mammal plays a fundamental role in their vineyards, the reason being that they eat the lobesia botrana butterfly, whose eggs, when laid on the grapes, give rise to worms that seriously damage them.

 

So as we see, every little bug counts. If you are a winegrower, you already know this :)

 

🍇 Conscious work

At this last point we would be talking about a holistic approach, almost quantum, as Ton said.

 

He told us that his vineyards are biodynamic, but perhaps the people working in the vineyard are not yet. Biodynamic philosophy, applied to the human side, also implies a deep connection with the whole, and a heightened awareness at all levels.

 

A subject in which most of us are still on the way.

 

Phytotherapy
Phytotherapy

These are some of the techniques used in biodynamic agriculture that demonstrate a different and respectful way of caring for the land, the vine and the environment.

 

Recaredo has been certified with the Demeter seal since 2010.

 

And what began as a practical matter; reducing the amount of copper used in the organic farming model, was transformed into a more romantic, reflective and conscious vision in the way of treating life and everything that surrounds it.

 

If you want to know more, here is the full interview.

 

At E2G we are proud to represent authentic projects like this and many others.

 

Whether you are an importer and want to know them, or you are a winery and want us to help you position your wines in the world, contact us!