What it takes to get Biodynamic® Certification for a vineyard

When we began our journey at Eco Terreno, we quickly learned how to best farm our vineyards. Farm to regenerate the earth, rather than degenerate the soil, our immediate environment, and the planet. Or, more specifically, to farm Biodynamically.

To do it right, we held ourselves to the highest standards, as established by the Demeter Biodynamic Farm certification. Considered the gold-standard for quality control in Biodynamic farming, we received certification in June, 2017.

What is Biodynamic farming?

Biodynamic farming is a comprehensive, ethical, ecological, circle-of-life approach to farming for natural abundance and vitality.

The Biodynamic Association explains, “Each Biodynamic farm or garden is an integrated, whole, living organism. This organism is made up of many interdependent elements: fields, forests, plants, animals, soils, compost, people, and the spirit of the place.”

Black and white chicken standing on an irrigation pipe at the Eco Terreno wine farm — We rotate our chickens around the wine farm, giving them fresh ground to roam.

Biodynamic farming relies on the farm’s entire ecosystem to work in collaboration to foster a self-sustaining, nourishing, naturally flourishing environment. We achieve this without the use of chemicals or pesticides and with minimal use of outside materials.

Our role as Biodynamic farmers

So where do we, as people and a winery, fit into the Biodynamic farming paradigm at Eco Terreno?

As part of this living organism that is Biodynamic farming, we contribute as stewards, gently and holistically. By maintaining balance between all the elements, we thrive together, in symbiotic harmony.

Helping foster the success of all these elements takes more time and effort than modern industrial farming. But once the soil and ecosystem are in balance, they’re more self-sustaining, self-regulating, and healthy for years to come.

A handful of soil in the palm of an employees hand at Eco Terreno wine farm — We nurture our soil’s health, to provide the nutrients our farm needs.

What is Biodynamic farming?

At the heart of a Biodynamic farm is its soil. From spectacularly fertile, healthy soil, all living things including plants, animals, and humans can thrive. To accomplish this, we farm according to the main principles of Biodynamic farming:

plant diversity
crop rotation
diverse animal life
composting
homeopathic solutions/preparations
life forces

Let’s briefly break them down:

Plant diversity

As evidence supports, monoculture farming, or growing one type of crop on the same plot of land, strips the soil of its nutrients. This destructive practice creates a less-than-favorable environment for plants.

The healthier alternative is plant diversity. Growing a variety of symbiotic plants together has proven to promote soil health, increase crop yield, welcome life-perpetuating pollinators, and suppress weeds and pests.

At Eco Terreno, we plant seasonal cover crops in our vineyards, maintain the perennial hedgerows surrounding the vineyard, cultivate seasonal vegetable and herb gardens, and maintain a large swath of pristine wilderness to help keep our environment in balance through diversity. We also have a bountiful fruit orchard and a bee garden that attracts many buzzing, pollinating friends. With plant life flourishing year-round, the land is literally alive with vitality.

California poppy and other cover crops growing between the vine rows — California poppies are one of the many cover crops that we seed between our vineyard rows.

Crop rotation

Planting a rotating roster of plants on any given patch of land fosters soil health and fertility. It also aids in reducing erosion and enables more nutrient availability in the soil to assist the growing plants. We rotate a wide variety of cover crops in our vineyards, and fruits and vegetables in our edible gardens. Together they nourish the soil and support our birds, bees, and beneficial insects, all important contributors to our farm. By viewing the farm as a whole system, we essentially run it so it can run itself. Able to generate its own resources and provide for its own energy needs within, keeps it healthy. This is all par for the course of farming Biodynamically. Another word to describe this closed loop farming system is permaculture (a combination of the words ‘permanent’ and ‘agriculture’). Philosophically speaking, we are turning waste into resources.

Animal life

Not all animals are ideal for vineyard and garden health. However, many play critical roles in bolstering soil nutrients, managing weeds, deterring pests, and pollinating local flora.

By offering bird boxes and perches, we actively create a hospitable environment for helpful birds, including bluebirds and raptors. In addition, we leave 15 percent of our land wild, as a natural habitat for birds and other local wildlife. During winter, we welcome sheep to the vineyards to do what they do—naturally till, weed, and fertilize the soil. And chickens and Indian running ducks roam our grounds, gobbling up bugs and fertilizing the ground as they go.

Ducks and chickens together in the barn eating green vegetables — Our ducks and chickens feast together on the produce we grow in our Edible Garden.

Composting

We wholeheartedly embrace composting at Eco Terreno. Through the regular application of recycled matter, we fertilize our soil naturally with powerful, enriching nutrients. Along with organic cow manure and organic straw, we add organic plant waste from our edible garden and vineyard pomace (grape skins, seeds and stems left over from winemaking) to our estate-made Biodynamic compost. Less waste, better compost. It’s a win-win!

And the benefits go beyond our own farm. By not using synthetic or chemical fertilizers, we also contribute to the health of our surrounding environment and the greater planet.

Homeopathic solutions

“Homeopathic solutions” is a term used to describe concoctions made from organic herbs, mineral substances, manure, and other organic ingredients. These solutions are used on the farm for natural medicinal or nutritional purposes.

Biodynamic certification requires the application of nine such preparations on the farm. Their purpose is to strengthen the health and vitality of our soil and plants. All of these homeopathic preparations are added to our compost. Some are sprayed directly on the vines. With their assistance and growing benefits we are able to avoid using pharmaceutical-like/chemical-based treatments on our farm.

Mason jar with a biodynamically grown herb inside that will be applied to the vineyard — One of the homeopathic preparations we apply to our vineyard to enhance its health and vitality.

Life forces

Integrating life forces into farming practices is the respect and understanding of working with, and tapping into, the rhythmic seasons, moon phases and celestial cycles of our wise and giving Mother Nature. It’s where science meets cosmic spirituality. Working with the natural rhythm of plants and vines is an important part of Biodynamic farming.

What it takes to become Biodynamic certified

Demeter’s Biodynamic® farm standards are far more detailed than what we’ve outlined above.

For any farm to achieve Biodynamic® certification, it must develop a specific farm system that:

fosters fertility
naturally controls pests and weeds
organically transforms waste from one part of the farm into energy for another
and elevates the earth’s natural resources rather than mining them.

The elements of the system must originate from the farm itself. It builds a healthy working relationship between soil, crops, animals, compost, and botanical and species diversity.

You can read all the requirements for Biodynamic certification here. You’ll find an extensive list of nuances that must be adhered to, from 100-percent organic farming practices to avoiding bare-tilling the land to extensive water conservation.

As stewards with an intimate relationship and understanding of our farm, it’s obvious to us that each and every one of these requirements is essential to the health of our farm and its inhabitants.

How Biodynamic farming affects wine quality

Even before we received our Biodynamic certification, we saw great reward in our wines. Not surprisingly, an idyllic vital growing environment produces wines that express sublime character and an authentic sense of terroir.

With nutrient-rich soils, minimal irrigation to keep our vines healthy without diluting the flavor, and no disruption of chemicals, our wine exhibits uniquely pure flavors, rich minerality, and the fullest expression of our distinct surroundings. Each of our wines is essentially a reflection of paradise.

Large container of red grapes after harvest — The fruits of our labor are naturally delicious grapes that we craft into exceptional wines.

The broader impact of Biodynamic farming

But it’s not just our farm and wines that benefit.

Biodynamic farming triggers carbon sequestration, where plants and soil naturally remove and store carbon emissions from the atmosphere. The impact is measured on a mighty scale – the reduction of global warming!

Imagine how much better off our world would be if we all followed Biodynamic farming. We’ll share ideas on how you can easily participate at the end of this article.

At Eco Terreno, helping create a positive, restorative influence on our farm and the environment is as important as making our superior wines. And the more we experience the living paradise that is a Biodynamic farm, the more we feel it is our responsibility to champion regenerative agriculture. Being leaders in this positive movement brings joy to our hearts and happiness to our workplace.

How to grow your own garden Biodynamically

As we explained, there are six main principles to Biodynamic farming. We practice each of these on our wine farm at a large scale, but so can you at home, on your own scale.

Let’s cover each principle, with practical tips you can easily follow.