Biodynamic Wines of Montinore Estate
Biodynamic Agriculture is a multi-faceted approach to farming that views the entire farm as one organism working together. It starts with a baseline of organic standards and then goes much further with practices that encourage better soil health and agricultural self-sufficiency.
Biodynamics is the oldest third-party certified form of regenerative agriculture in the world. It was conceptualized in 1924 when European farmers were seeking a solution to their diminishing crop yields after introducing chemicals. For nearly a century, an international network of farmers, producers and researchers have continued to use and improve Biodynamic practices. It was the first of the organic agriculture movements and today still promotes the highest standards for ethical and sustainable farming.
The great wines of the world tell a story that reflect their origins and identity. Biodynamic farming facilitates that physically through how the soil and vines are managed on the vineyard.
Biodynamic agriculture goes beyond organic standards. In addition to not using pesticides or synthetic fertilizers, the Biodynamic certification also requires an additional set of practices that deliberately encourage biological activity on the entire farm.
Though it may seem counter-intuitive, simplicity in farming and winemaking yields greater complexity in the wines. Getting back to the basics of agriculture and not relying on synthetically produced fertilizers doesn’t just build the soil, it empowers the soil to proliferate, increasing the vitality each vintage. By empowering and utilizing the trillions of organisms that live in the soil, the vines receive a broad spectrum of nutrients right from the source where they are, resulting in the vines becoming a more integrated part of the vineyard landscape and ultimately results in better quality and flavor. This is why Biodynamic wines contain such a true expression of terroir – they are given the opportunity to soak up all the goodness that is unlocked for them from the ground in which they grow. Many professional wine tasters say that Biodynamic wine tastes alive
Montinore Estate is one of the nation’s largest producers of certified estate wines made from Biodynamic grapes. We began using Biodynamic practices on our vineyards in 2003 and were fully integrated and Demeter Certified by 2008. It was in 2006 that we started to see some subtle changes in the expressiveness of our wines with greater complexity that we later realized was a more complete expression of our vineyard character. Almost 20 years later, we feel our wines are very expressive of our corner of the Willamette Valley and tell a story of their own.
We are always driven to make the best wine possible from our corner of the globe. We’ve experienced firsthand how Biodynamic agriculture transforms the vines to make exceptional wines. Our goal is to make beautiful quality wines and we are proud that we can do that in a way that supports a healthy environment for our land, workers, local wildlife and beyond.
Rudy Marchesi is Chairman of the Demeter Association, the organization that certifies all U.S. Biodynamic farms and products, and is Partner of Montinore Estate, one of the nation’s largest producers of estate wine made from Biodynamic grapes. A leader in Biodynamic viticulture, Marchesi has been recognized for his contributions to wine education, both locally and globally. He was recognized by Oregon Wine Press as Wine Person of the Year in 2018 and continues to be a sought-out expert, both locally and globally, for his extensive knowledge of Biodynamic farming and winemaking.
