We’re often asked about the differences between organic, biodynamic and natural wines. Brief overview.
Let us begin by recalling two things:
– in Greek, “Bio”, means “life”. You all know what the opposite of life is. And “Dynamic”, “strength, power”.
– before the Second World War, all wines were organic. For the simple reason that pesticides, insecticides, herbicides and fungicides didn’t exist. They arrived after the war that generated research on chemical weapons.
So, what are the differences?
The common denominator of all three is the rejection of the use of synthetic chemicals. But while “nature” wines, like biodynamically-grown wines, are necessarily organic, an organic wine is not necessarily nature, nor biodynamically-grown. So, to enter the land of living wines, we have to enter through the door of organic viticulture.
ORGANIC
An organic wine is made from grapes grown in accordance with principles of organic farming which excludes the use of pesticides, fungicides, herbicides and artificial chemicals fertilizers.
To prevent mildew and other diseases in the vineyard, organic winemakers only use copper and sulphur, which are contact products, which means leachable. They do not penetrate the soil or plants, which are heavily affected by chemical treatments. But there are no specifications for what happens next in the cellar. The certification does not extend to the winery and winemaking methods. Everything depends on the honesty of the winemaker.
BIODYNAMIC
The concept behind biodynamics is that everything in the universe is interconnected and gives off a resonance, a vibration. That interconnectivity of everything implies taking into consideration all the actors in this natural conversation: the soil, the plant, the people, the planets, and the environment, from the nearest to the furthest. Everything counts. Essentially, biodynamics is a holistic view of agriculture. As it was before. There’s nothing new.
In one sense, the intuition of biodynamics joins the intuition of the Chinese Taoist cosmogonic thought which advances a unitary and organicist conception of the created universe, where everything connects and stands.
And joins the postulate of Buddhism, for which the universe is not a distinct creation of a creator God but the Body of the Buddha himself. Therefore, it has to be absolutely listened, respected. And protected.
This sensitivity is increasingly shared by an ever-growing community, all over the world, that refuses “to simplify the complex and to deny its responsibility in a chain of exchanges that nourishes everyone’s life”. (Observe the living, Alain Moueix, Château Fonroque).
The Domaine de la Romanée-Conti is biodynamically conducted since 2007. Château Latour, since 2015, is conducted in organic farming while some biodynamic principles are also applied.
NATURAL
Natural wine is a wine without any added inputs and sulfites, even at a tiny dose, to avoid the risk of standardization.
VEGAN
Vegan wines are made without the use of animal products often used in winemaking (viniculture) such as egg white used to agglomerate and then remove particles from the wine. So, be aware that a vegan wine may not be organic or biodynamic.
SUSTAINABLE
Sustainable agriculture attempts to minimize environmental impacts while ensuring economic viability, a safe, healthy workplace through the use of environmentally and economically sound production practices. Everything and its opposite. In other words, a meaningless definition.
“I don’t only want a good wine but also a true wine” – Nicolas Joly
A final word. We look down on our ancestors who thought that the sun revolved around Earth. How would they look at us if they saw us trashing our own house as we do?
Let’s all be Ambassadors of a healthy and living Earth. (Dr. FX)
