Quick Look
- This unique book offers both practical advice for wine growers and an intriguing exploration of Goethean theory in relation to vines
- Perfect for current biodynamic growers and those considering converting to biodynamic methods
- A beautiful book with deluxe paper and fully illustrated with colour photographs
- Includes expert case studies from America, France and New Zealand, each examining a different aspect of biodynamic viniculture
- Jean-Michel Florin is the coordinator of the French biodynamic association and Head of Agriculture at the Goetheanum
This fascinating book explores the nature of grape vines and their relationship to the environment in a beautifully illustrated guide by biodynamic wine expert Jean-Michel Florin.
Description
Wine growers are converting to biodynamic viniculture in record numbers. Some of the world’s best wines are now biodynamic.
At its heart, biodynamic viniculture is about understanding the nature of vines and their relationship to the environment. This beautifully illustrated and informative book will be of interest to current biodynamic wine growers and those considering converting to biodynamic methods.
It includes:
-- an introduction to the theory of biodynamic viniculture and the Goethean method of observation in relation to vines;
-- practical articles on all aspects of wine growing, including biodiversity, pruning, treating and preventing disease;
-- case studies of biodynamic vineyards from around the world.
Biodynamic wine expert Jean-Michel Florin has gathered contributions from biodynamic viniculturists to create a beautiful, full-colour book which is both a celebration of sustainable wine growing and an invaluable guide to the future of wine cultivation.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Part 1 - A Goethean Approach
1. The Archetypal Plant
Jean-Michel Florin
Four steps of plant observation
Plant growth: point, line and plane
The three types of metamorphosis
The root
The creation of substance
Fruit formation
Woody plants
2. The Vine
Jean-Michel Florin
A woody climber
The grape louse plague
The vine’s gesture
Cultivation and habitat
A paradigm change: from controlling to accompanying the vine
Part 2 - A New Impulse
3. Pathogenesis: The Grape Louse Plague
Georg Meissner
4. Salutogenesis: Restoring the Vine to Health
Georg Meissner
Part 3 - A Viticulture that Respects the Vine’s True Nature
5. The Agricultural Organism
Jean-Michel Florin
6. From Grapevine Monoculture to a Diverse Vineyard
Werner Michlits
7. Undersowing Vines in Organic Viticulture
Matthias Wolff
8. Biodynamic Vineyards at Work
The Zusslin Estate, Alsace, France
Jean-Michel Florin
Château d’Esther, St Loubès, Bordeaux, France
Jean-Michel Florin
Eco Terreno, Sonoma County, California, USA
Robert Izzo and Daphne Amory
Littorai Wines, Sonoma County, California, USA
Ted Lemon
Seresin Estate, Marlborough, New Zealand
Colin Ross
Part 4 - How to Make the Vine Stronger
9.Manure
Jean-Michel Florin
The biodynamic preparations
10.Esca: a Grapevine Trunk Disease
Florian Bassini
11.Fungal Diseases
Jean-Michel Florin
Field horsetail (Equisetum arvense)
Willow
The stinging nettle (Urtica dioica)
12. The Nature of Sulfur
Marc Follmer
13. The Nature of Copper
Marc Follmer
14. Pruning to Reflect the Vine’s Nature
Hans-Christian Zehnter
15. Gentle Pruning to Prevent Wood Disease
François Dal
16. The Vine Nursery: Training the Breeder’s Eye
Jean-Michel Florin
17. Regenerative Grafting
François Dal
18.Growing Points
Jean-Michel Florin
Part 5 - The Future of the Vine
19. Wine Gold
Hans-Christian Zehnter
20. Developments in Apple Breeding: a Possibility for the Vine
Nikolaus Bolliger
21.The Future of Wine: Working with a Creative Tension
Jean-Michel Florin
Acknowledgements
Picture Credits
Contributors
Biodynamic Associations
Notes
Further Reading
Index
Author
Jean-Michel Florin was born in 1961 in Alsace, France. He has been the coordinator of the French biodynamic movement (Mouvement d'Agriculture Bio-Dynamique) since 1988 and co-leader of the Biodynamic Section at the Goetheanum in Switzerland since 2010. He lectures and runs training courses in biodynamics and Goethean science in many countries and is the author of numerous articles on biodynamics and related subjects.
Bernard Jarman is a biodynamic consultant based in Stroud, UK. He is a director of the UK Biodynamic Association.
