Our Farming Philosophy

Rudolf Steiner

Biodynamics is a wholistic farming approach developed in the 1920s by the Austrian scientist-philosopher Rudolf Steiner. While it encompasses many of the principles of organic farming, such as the elimination of all chemicals, Biodynamics goes further, requiring close attention to the varied forces of nature influencing the vine. It also emphasizes a closed, self-sustaining ecosystem.

We are as attentive to the 30 acres of gardens, woodland, riparian areas, wetlands, cover crops and wildlife sanctuaries on our 85-acre ranch, as we are our 42 acres planted to winegrapes.

In 1997, we hired Alan York, a world-renowned Biodynamic practitioner and horticulturist, to guide us in our quest for wines with quality and individuality. With Alan's help, we achieved Biodynamic certification in 2000, through the Demeter Association, an independent third-party certifier for traditional Biodynamic farming practices. The certification is extremely difficult to achieve, must be renewed every year and is the ultimate guarantee of purity in agricultural products. Today, we are one of only a handful of Demeter certified Biodynamic vineyards in North America.

The Seal of Demeter
Certification
www.Demeter-USA.org

The Demeter Association requires vineyards to meet a strict set of guidelines. They include:

No use of artificial fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides
The promotion of crop fertility through compost, manures, green manuring and crop rotations, along with regular application of Biodynamic compost preparations and field sprays
Pest control through soil management; Biodynamic sprays and teas; crop rotations and diversification; and promotion of diverse animal, bird and insect populations that lead to self-regulating predator and prey relationships
Weed control by cultivation and other mechanical methods
The majority of composting materials must be self-generated by the farm
The farm must be free of prohibited inputs for 36 months and under Biodynamic
management for 24 months prior to certification

Benziger's Sonoma Mountain Estate

Biodynamic Farming

Promotes the individuality of a given site by minimizing outside influences a
nd recycling all farm and wine residues back into the vineyards.
Emphasizes soil health as a means of increasing the health of the vine and cultivating aroma, color and texture in the wine.
Uses no chemically synthesized fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, fumigants, hormones, antibiotics, growth regulators or GMOs.
Reliance on these synthetics reduces the ability of the vine to absorb nutrients from the soil, leaving it susceptible to disease. Over time, these chemicals kill the soil and the environment.
Employs a series of eight herbal-based preparations applied to the soil in order to
promote soil vitality through increased microbiologic activity and diversity (think of these as vitamins for the plant and soil). The more nutrient-rich and biologically diverse the soils, the more character in the wine.
Uses cover crops and companion plants to maximize the health of the vineyard environment.
Promotes pest control through soil management; Biodynamic sprays and teas; crop
rotations and diversification; and the encouragement of diverse animal, bird and insect populations that lead to self-regulating predator and prey relationships.
Aligns vineyard practices (planting, pruning, etc.) with the earth's natural cycles
(lunar, seasonal) for maximum health and development of the vines.