New Zealand Biodynamics

November 6, 4:11 PMInternational Wine ExaminerKevin Lynch

Previous Next

1 comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the International Wine Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

German winemakers were said to have arrived by the shipload to the seaside town of Nelson, New Zealand in 1843. They were welcomed with open arms by the budding, thirsty nation. Promptly the Germans set to work but quickly lost interest in the region at the south end of the North Island and were off to join their countrymen, who had immigrated in greater numbers, in South Australia. Others left during World War I when anti-German sentiment boiled over resulting in wanton vandalism and physical attacks on German immigrants. Among those attacked was Friedrich Wohnsiedler, now accredited with being one of the founders of the New Zealand wine industry.

Friedrich Wohnsiedler

Some Germans hung around and some, many years later, in 1925 say, may have been aware of the newly developing idea of Biodynamic farming.

Biodynamics were started in Germany by Rudolf Steiner. What it means to be a Biodynamic farmer is a bit contentious but the practice has gained ground and has been embraced by farmers around the world. Along with a few in New Zealand. Notably Wrights Vineyard & Winery near Gisborne. (For a list of some of New Zealand Biodynamic wineries see below.)

This year NZ released its first certified Biodynamic wine. It comes, fittingly enough from Nelson. It is the 2008 Richmond Plains Aries Late Harvest Pinot Noir. Only 300 bottles were made. A 375ml costs NZ$29.90/US$21.65. The grapes were hand harvested on June 1. According to the winery June 1 was chosen as the pick date because, “...the moon had moved through the constellation Aries, a fire sign and the ideal time for harvesting Biodynamic fruit.”

Other New Zealand Biodynamic or “nearly” Biodynamic wineries: Blind Trail, Covell Estate, Felton Road, Hawkhurst Estate, Kingsley Estate Vineyards, Millton Vineyards, Pyramid Valley Vineyards, Rippon Vineyard, Daniel Schuster Wines, Seresin and Vynfields.

To learn more about the finer points of Biodynamic farming and an assessment of its efficacy read Biodynamic Vineyard Management at the Native Food & Wine website.

If you found this informative please subscribe using the subscribe button at the top of this article.