So You Want to Drink Well...

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So many wines, so much confusion. Sustainable, organic, biodynamic: what does it all mean?

On this site, we'll try our best to help you understand your options and why biodynamically grown wines should zoom to the top of your list.

• Often consumers want to know: what's in my wine? It's true that supermarket as well as high end wines contain a lot of additives we don't know much about and that aren't labeled on the bottle.

• But the bigger question, often overlooked, is what was sprayed on the wine grapes your wine was made from? 

• Wine grapes that aren't organic or biodynamic have pesticide residues.

Glyphosate 

• A popular herbicide that's a carcinogen

• It's commonly found in high levels in breakfast cereals and oats 

• In wine, it's used to kill weeds in vineyards and remains in the wine

• Studies have shown that herbicides kill off half of the beneficial fungi that give wine grapes their flavor

Fungicides 

• Commonly used fungicides are copper and synthetic chemicals

• The most popular synthetics include boscalid (typically combined with heavy metals and petroleum residues) and fenhexamid 

• These synthetics are bee and bird toxins, endocrine disruptors and neurotoxins 

• In wine, they are used to control mildew and remain in the wine

• Like herbicides, they are not specific about which fungi to target and they kill the beneficial fungi

• They can optimize a wine's potential so that healthy grapes reach the highest quality, depending on the skill of the grower and the winemaker and Mother Nature.

• Many of the world's most famous producers are biodynamic. The most expensive Pinot Noir in the world comes from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and Domaine Leroy—both are biodynamic. One of the top Rhone wine producers, Chapoutier, and the prestigious Eisele Vineyard in Napa (owned by the owner of the famous Bordeaux estate Chateau Latour) are also certified biodynamic,

• As a category, biodynamically grown wines have received more than their fair share of praise and adoration—ranking higher (as a group) than peers in scores and competitions. 

• Yes. 

• Health | For starters, biodynamic (and organic) wine grapes are grown without toxic or petroleum based chemicals. So that's better for soil, water, air, people, birds, bees, critters and the environment.

• Climate| Studies have shown that, like organically grown vines, biodynamic vineyards sequester more carbon than conventional or sustainable wines do. 

• Biodiversity | Biodynamic vineyard are required to set aside 10% of their land for biodiversity and must also conserve water. They also source materials as locally as possible.

• Soil Health| Biodynamic vineyards also have more biodiversity in soil microorganisms than other farming systems).

• Green Energy | Biodynamic growers and vintners are also encouraged to use solar energy. One winery was the first winery in the U.S to be certified by the Living Building Challenge™ (LBC), the world’s most rigorous green building standard. The standard incorporates regenerative principles.

• Corporate Social Responsibility | Out of 60 biodynamic producers in the U.S., four are B Corps, the highest standard for percentage of any category of winery. 

• Overall | While biodynamic vineyards represent only .003% of California's vineyards, biodynamic wineries owners overdelivered in green wine awards (2015-2018), winning 25% of the California Wine Institute's Green Medal awards.

• No. They cost the same and are available in every price level. 

• On this website you'll find everything from $15 bottles rated 91 points by leading international critics to world class Napa Cabs for $550.

• Like other wine categories, biodynamically grown wines come in a wide range of styles. Winemakers make their wines according to their own preferences on how to best express the flavor of their grapes each year.

• Sulfites | About 40+ wines on this site are made without sulfites but the other 300+ wines, like fine wines in general, contain limited amounts of sulfites—typically under 100 ppm. 

• Yeasts | Most, but not all, of the winemakers choose to vinify their grapes on native yeasts. (Choosing a wine that is certified as a "Biodynamic Wine," means that only native yeast was allowed.)

• Additives| Biodynamic producers have varied approaches. Many wines are additive free except for the addition of low amounts of sulfites. (Many natural wines also have a low levels of added sulfites.) Other biodynamic winemakers may add acid—which is sometimes necessary because of climate warming.

• Consumers can seek out certified Biodynamic Wines on the site. This certification standard that means the wines, aside from a limited number of sulfites, are additive free.

• Anyone who wants to enjoy good wine. 

• With an active and rampant rumor mill, media fake news, greenwashing, and people who somehow think a good agronomic standard is the same as sorcery or witchcraft, it's comical how much misinformation runs riot when the topic is biodynamics. 

• Get the facts on bd.wine.

• Take a quick look at the residue charts below to see how organic and biodynamic farming produces wines with fewer residues. 

• Then, if you'd like to dive down into the more detailed story on how biodynamic is an alternative to "business as usual" in the eco-unfriendly wine industry, read on.