Maybe it’s because I’m a wine lover
or maybe it’s because I’m going back to the Okanagan this week, but I wanted to check on the meaning behind some of the organic wine farming terminology. And I thought you might want to know too.
We’re all familiar with organic and how farming without pesticides is much healthier for everyone, with a very meaningful benefit to the environment.
Biodiversity plays a key role in organic farming and we’re hearing the word “Biodynamic” a lot…but what is it?
For our friends at Summerhill/Pyramid winery in Kelowna, these organic + biodynamic practices have been standard and an integral part of wine making since it was purchased by the Cipes family in 1986.
Shared from their newsletter:
| Biodynamic Farming Considered the grandfather to organics, was introduced by Rudolf Steiner in 1924. This concept encouraged a more holistic approach to agriculture, prioritizing sustainable soil health and encouraging biodiversity. By balancing the interrelationship of soil, plants, and animals, we create a closed system where nothing is wasted. Summerhill was certified by Demeter International in 2012 and remains British Columbia’s only certified biodynamic vineyard. |
Taken from Summerhill/Pyramid website
At the core of biodynamic farming is living in harmony with nature, harvesting soulful, beautiful food and returning nutrient back to the earth.
Biodiversity plays a key role in organic farming. Since we don’t use any synthetics in our vineyards, we must encourage nature to fill ecological niches and maintain balance. By allowing flowering plants to grow between the rows, we provide a home for beneficial insects such as ladybugs and praying mantises. The natural flora also help to improve our soil life and water retention, important elements to growing quality grapes!
Our home vineyard is 17 hectares where natural springs emerge on the property, and join with creeks to create a beautiful wetland nature sanctuary that supports a variety of species.
Summerhill is committed to producing 100% organic wine. Our Kelowna vineyard entered the certification program in 1988, and has received Demeter Biodynamic certification in 2012. In addition, our winemaking is also certified organic, allowing us to display the Canadian certified organic logo on our bottles, ensuring you can expect a high level of quality and purity.
Sidenote from Girl who would be King: might I add that their wine tastes better and doesn’t give you a headache (unless of course you really over indulge but that’s not what I’m talking about). That’s not to say that I drink “only organic” (although it is my preference to do so), however there is unfortunately not enough “all organic” wineries so I do try other wines and like many of them. My only hope is that all wineries follow suit and go the Summerhill route to a healthier way of living/drinking.
Cheers to a good week ahead!
Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION. 
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