Considera

From Over the Moon - Kelli White


Jason Jardine spent years working at biodynamic properties, stirring the water, spreading
the compost, doing the work. As the opening winemaker for Rhys, he developed the
vineyards with biodynamics in mind from the start. Later, he did a turn with Randall
Graham and his Demeter-certified vineyard, and helped convert Flowers Winery from
organic to biodynamic farming. But by the time he landed at Hanzell in 2014, Jason’s
views on biodynamics had evolved considerably.

Of Steiner’s many teachings, two aspects of biodynamics resonated most deeply with
Jason: the use of the celestial calendar and the idea of the farm as a closed system.
Though the calendar is a complex subject, Jason believed in one thing above all: that the
relative (synodic) position of the earth, moon, and sun has a particularly dramatic impact
on sap flow. “I spent 10 years squeezing rachises trying to see how much sap is in the vine
at times of harvest. There is definitely a link between the amount of sap and the phase of
the moon, absolutely.”

Jason also believes that sap flow links directly to wine quality. During the full moon, he
claims, sap is drawn out into the outer edges of the vine—the tendrils and
leaves—whereas it collects in the roots during the new moon. This makes the new moon
the most efficient time to irrigate. “Also, sap flow has a big impact on tannin development.
If you cut the plant when the sap is up, it creates stress. So, we time our actions—pruning,
hedging, thinning—in accordance with sap flow and have seen a more even progression of
things in the vineyard. No periods of shutdown, steady metabolism, better ripening of
tannins.” He also sees variations in clarity during racking that correspond to the phases of
the moon. “Of course,” he allows with a chuckle, “you still find people that think that’s total
bullshit.”

From the same excellent article

"Ted Lemon of Littorai Wines has his own ideas of which aspects of the practice are the most critical...

Ted also feels that the preparations are essential to biodynamics, but doesn’t necessarily
believe in using the Maria Thun calendar. “The whole leaf/fruit/flower/thing is formulaic,
and that is inherently problematic,” Ted explains. “Now, instead of relying on the intuition of
the farmer, you have to consult a calendar.” He feels that this goes against farm
individuality, which is inextricably bound to the farmer. “Steiner talks a great deal about
rhythms, and how critical rhythm is for a plant and for farming. But while I believe the use
of preparations should be universal, how you time them should really depend on you and
your farm.”

And later in the same brilliant article - not really at home in this section of the Considera Forum .. but sooo on the nose!

"... One of the most common complaints is that certification puts undue burden on the virtuous. As Eben Sadie so passionately put it, “It’s crazy. People who farm organically get audited. But meanwhile, you can farm with as [many] chemicals as you want and no one says anything. They are checking in on the wrong guys!”

Hallelujah!!!