Slow Wine 2018's Italian Producers - 45% of SF Exhibitors Had Wines from Organically Farmed Wines

10 PERCENT OF ITALIAN VINEYARDS ARE CERTIFIED ORGANIC

Vino Biologico is thriving.

Looking for fine wines from organically farmed vines is easy if you're choosing from among Slow Wine's Italian producers who came to San Francisco earlier this month.

The country has more than 206,000 acres of organic vineyards, compared to fewer than 20,000 acres of organic vineyards in the U.S. (Maybe when Fred Franzia's new 5,000 acres are certified, which should be pretty soon, we can get up to 25,000 acres.)

Indeed in their introduction to the 2018 guide, the Italian editors Giancarlo Gariglio and Fabio Giavedoni write,

"When Slow Wine made its debut, it was hard...to find wines that farmed their vineyards organically or at least avoided weeding with chemicals. Today it's the exact opposite..."

Today Italy has more organic vines than France, both in number (206,000 acres to 174,730 acres) and in percentage (10% compared to 9%). 

SLOW WINE ITALIAN EXHIBITORS: 45 PERCENT CERTIFIED ORGANIC

More than 85 producers exhibited at Terre Gallery in San Francisco March 7, as part of a four city tour (Atlanta, Houston, New York and SF). Out of the 85 producers, according to the program guide, 36 were either certified organic or converting to organic. Two were listed as Demeter certified Biodynamic.

We're talking about 200,000 acres of vineyards with no added Roundup, synthetic fertilizers and other toxic chemicals. To put that into perspective, here in California, we have 460,000 acres of vineyards total - minus about 15,000 acres for organic - we have 445,000 acres of Roundup, synthetic fertilizers and toxics. So where are you going to find great organically grown wines when only 15,000 acres of California are treating their soil with respect?

The answer is yes, we have wonderful wines, but in fact, Italy has a LOT MORE wonderful wines and most of the wines from Italy at Slow Wine are not nearly as pricey as a Sonoma Pinot Noir or a Napa Cab. Not to mention that the Italians have a much greater variety of varietals and make many more types of wine in general - from Amarone to Prosecco and beyond.

Here are some of the lovely producers I met and sampled wines from at the event.

DOCG Amarone producer Speri, from the Veneto, is
transitioning to organic

Vinica Tintilia de Molise Lame del Sorbo
Tintilia is an indigenous grape from Molise (on the east central coast of
Italy south of Vasto. Delish.

The wonderful Avignonesi winery in Tuscany - with this beautiful Montepulciano -
is headed by Virginie Saverys, who will be speaking at the
International Biodynamic Wine Conference here in SF May 6

More lovelies from Avignonenesi; the estate has a 100 acres of vines

Time for a refreshing rosé? This one's from the Veneto
and is made with Corvina and Rondinella grapes

Case Paolin makes a very nice Brut Prosecco

The same producer also has a Col Fondo Prosecco fermetned on the lees
but there isn't much of it that you can find on Wine-Searcher

Now, where can I BUY these wines? That's the real question...

A Front Row Seat on the Redwood Valley Fire: Interview with Katrina Frey on Living Through the 2017 Fire

Frey Wine - fire damage (KQED photos)

People affected by the extraordinary fires of 2017 are still recovering. Hear Katrina Frey's version of the calamitous events of last fall in this podcast from March 5 on An Organic Conversation.

Nine people died and 360 houses burned to the ground.

Frey was in the process of building new facilities when the fire happened.

Must See Movie - Our Blood is Wine - Opens Online March 20

The movie opens March 20 (video on demand): see the trailer here.  

What is wine, really? Movies like Somm tend to perpetuate the crazy idea that wine appreciation is some kind of competitive sport for diners who can afford to eat in three star Michelin restaurants - and not something of the land and for the people.

Salvation comes in the form of Our Blood is Wine, which screened at the super funky (and for that reason wonderful) New Parkway Theater in Oakland last Sunday (after the Brumaire natural wine tasting) with both the filmmaker - Emily Railsback - and the film's leading man - sommelier Jeremy Quinn - on hand to answer questions after the film. (And yes, there's something of a rom-com story to their collaboration - they are a couple). That was followed by a mini tasting of Georgian wines imported by Terrell Wines.

The legndary Iago Bitarishvili makes wine in quevri in Chinuri

The untarnished, old school Georgian wines have become the flag bearer for the natural wine movement, although the Georgians' dedication extends (unlike too many of the natural winemakers in the U.S.) to tending their own vines. Their traditions date back 8,000 years and their wine-celebrating songs and toastings continue to this day (although they have tended to exclude women from the recitations and toasting traditions, Railsback and Quinn say the situation is, slowly, changing). 

The film also features the first woman winemaker, Marina Kurtanidze (Iago's wife) to make exported Georgian wines. 

I loved seeing the 400 year old vines in the film, that are simply breathtaking and awe-inspiring. Another special moment in the film is visiting Vardezia, a 12th century seat of power filled with cave churches, monasteries and frescoes - along with 185 ancient wine jars. Another great moment is learning about the modern replanting of an amphitheater once planted to vines. Add to that Georgian music, food and families featured in archival footage from a 1964 film Falling Leaves. (Note:  you can see this feature film in its entirety on YouTube.) It tells the story of a young winemaker who is prey to Soviet era corruption in the wine world.

Another highlight in the film is the discovery that Japanese wine lovers have fallen under the spell of Georgian wines; we see a few Japanese tourists in the film. 

Restauranteurs also love Georgian wines - not only are they exotic, they are also crazy cheap at wholesale prices. The U.S. State Department has even sponsored Wines of Georgia, to preserve Georgian culture when the Soviet Union withdrew its support.

About one percent of the country's exported wines are still aging their wines in quevri (giant clay pots, buried underground), a tradition that archaeologists believe goes back to the earliest winemaking times we know of (- so far). (See: Areni in nearby Armenia.) Of course, there could always be a new site to be discovered that is older than Areni, and there are several excavations in Georgia hoping to reclaim the notoriety for being the oldest winemaking site for Georgia. But no matter - those country lines didn't exist 8,000 years ago.

But most quevri wine is made and consumed at home and not exported, the couple said.

Emily Railsback and Jeremy Quinn during Q&A with the New Parkway audience

I had a lovely chat with Emily and Jeremy, discussing our mutual love of ancient wine history. It turns out the two also filmed in Turkey, Corsica and elsewhere but that footage didn't make it into this film. Hopefully there will be another.

Amazingly, Emily shot the entire film on her iPhone. 

During the Q and A, Railsback and Quinn said today there are only about 30-40,000 acres of vines now versus 140,000 under the Soviet era. The Soviets forced Georgians to stop producing their indigenous wines using their native techniques and instead forced them to make sweet wines for export to the USSR. 

The movie screened earlier this year at Berlin Film Festival and got a very upbeat film review in the New York Times this week.

Carla Capalbo, author, and a new friend, who she met
at the tasting; he knew one of the women featured in her book

I was just saying to my friend, Lissy, a great home cook, who came with me to the event that it was a shame that there wasn't a "The" book written yet about Georgian wines - Alice Feiring's book was entertaining but it wasn't a travel and wine guide - when I stumbled up the stairs into the tasting to see Carla Capalbo, a food and wine writer based in the UK and Italy, standing there with her brand new title Tasting Georgia, a collection of recipes and winery profiles from the different regions of Georgia. 

This book isn't entirely about wine, of course - which means there still is an opening for a beautiful photo book of all the wines and wineries and regions - but it's a helluva good start. And its real focus is on food and wine.

It's also an overview tour of the country, including areas where tourists often don't venture. Capalbo shot all the photos herself. 

It's a splendid book and I bought one on the spot. You can buy one on Amazon.com where it's getting crazy good reviews.

Here are some more of the wines we tasted. (No idea where my notes are). Enjoy the film!

You can also read a lovely interview with Emily on Sprudge.

History Live! Glyphosate Experts Testify on Roundup's Cancer Causing Potential in Federal Court

I attended the gyphosate hearings last week in U.S. District Court in San Francisco - in which science experts for Monsanto and for the 370 plaintiffs suing Monsanto presented their scientific credentials and opinions.

What's remarkable about the hearings is that we can all watch and read what the experts said and the information they presented.

The plaintiffs alleged that Roundup was responsible for giving them non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of cancer. These cases will be heard in jury trials across the country, but the vetting of the experts was bundled together under what is known as multi district litigation (MDL) under Judge Vince Chhabria.

The list of participants in the hearing can be seen here.

SEE THE VIDEO!

This is an historic first - you can see the experts' entire testimony online.

The hearings were videotaped by the court and are online now for all to see.

Although they span five days of hearings, I believe they are very important for anyone who's interested in knowing about the science underlying the cancer risk assessments of glyphosate, including IARC's landmark 2015 ruling. Monsanto has conducted smear campaigns of IARC's findings that glyphosate is a probable carcinogen, saying it's "junk science."

The videos will be used by state judges presiding over the 370 cases filed to date which are expected to go to jury trials.

LIVE COVERAGE

If you'd like a written summary of the proceedings each day, the best source is U.S. Right to Know's live coverage:

• U.S. Right to Know Live Coverage

Another summary version is posted here:

• Baum, Hedlund, Aristei & Goldman blog

FULL TRANSCRIPTS

You can also go for a deeper dive into each scientist's testimony. See the full transcripts here:

For the Plaintiffs

• March 5

Dr. Beate Ritz (pages 9-167)
Dr. Dennis Weisenberger (pages 168-213)

• March 6

Dr. Dennis Weisenberger (pages 218-286)
Dr. Alfred Neugut (pages 287-370)

• March 7

Dr. Alfred Neugut (pages 377-401)
Dr. Charles Jameson (pages 402-539)
Dr. Christopher Porter (pages 540-595)

• March 8

Dr. Aaron Blair (pages TBD)
Dr. Matthew Ross (pages TBD)

For Monsanto

Dr. Thomas Rosol (pages TBD)
Christopher Corcoran (pages TBD)

• March 9

For the Plaintiffs
Dr. Nabhan (pages TBD)

For Monsanto
Dr. Mucci (pages TBD)

HIGHLIGHTS

Limited time? I would prioritize reading and/or viewing the testimony of Dr. Jameson and Dr. Nabhan for the plaintiffs.

Dr. Jameson's video appears beginning in Part 7.
Dr. Nabhan's video appears in Part 17, at 24:00 and extends over subsequent video segments.

For Monsanto, I would recommend the testimony of Dr. Rosol.

Want to Learn About Biodynamic Vineyards and Wines? Come to Biodynamic Producer Day at IBWC

Demeter USA is putting on the first ever day of educational programs about Biodynamic viticulture and winemaking Sunday, May 6 at the Golden Gate Club in San Francisco. It's part of the two day International Biodynamic Wine Conference.

Learn about the latest in the Biodynamic preparations, Biodynamic compost, soil and the microbiome and more from top experts in the field.

• David Montgomery and Anne Biklé, experts on sol and the microbiome, will be keynote speakers at the event

• Biodynamic research scientist John Reganold and U. C. Farm Advisor Glenn McGourty will be speak on a panel of researchers who have studied Biodynamic viticulture

• Bonterra vineyard director Joseph Brinkley, prepmaker Mattias Baker, and Brook LeVan will be talking about the latest in the Biodynamic preparations

• International biodynamic wine expert Monty Waldin will speak about the international Biodynamic perspective - what countries are embracing it

Come and learn more about techniques that Biodynamic growers and winemakers use in the vines and different approaches to marketing and business perspectives from Biodynamic wine community.

Get the details here.

Monsanto Glyphosate Hearings - Experts Point the Finger at Carcinogen While Corporate Lawyers Dispute the Scientific Evidence

A riveting showdown of the experts is taking place in San Francisco this week as Monsanto fights against accusations that glyphosate really is carcinogenic.

Take a look at veteran journalist Carey Gillam's Twitter feed to see what's happening. She is posting regular updates to the U.S. Right to Know's web site which provide detailed coverage of the trial which continues this week.

This is a landmark moment in the history of glyphosate findings and Monsanto's attempts to refute the scientific evidence.

You can read her latest story in The Guardian here as well.

The New York Times printed the Associated Press coverage here.

Pro Wein Takes Organic Wine Seriously + 8 Great Biodynamic Table Wines You Can Find Online

As ProWein, one of the largest wine shows in the world, prepares to launch its 25th annual gathering in Germany, with more than 6,700 exhibitors from 61 countries, it features organic wines as a special area of focus.

Read this description of the Organic Wine section from The Drinks Business online here:

"Organic wines will...remain prevalent at the show which ProWein says, is "not just a passing trends," but a fixture of many top producers' portfolios. 

Demeter will host a session debating whether organic wine (I think they mean to say Biodynamic wine since Demeter does not certify organic wines, only Biodynamic wines) is a "product for the elite or a broader audience," while the organic wine association Ecovin will be on hand to offer an overview of the category.   

At Bioland LV Rheinland-Pfalz, they will be asking whether organic wine cultivation can give wine retail an opportunity to raise its profile, while experts at Falstaff will give talks on the future of organic wine in the international context., while the Ecole du Vin de Bordeaux Conseil Interprofessionel du Vin de Bordeaux (CIVB) will provide insights into the organic movement in Bordeaux. (Yes, let's hear more about this - how many wineries are there?)

More than 58,000 visitors are expected to attend.

POST SCRIPT - IS BIODYNAMIC WINE ELITE? NOT

Regarding the question of whether or not Biodynamic wines are only for the elite, I've organized a whole panel at the upcoming Demeter USA sponsored International Biodynamic Wine Conference (taking place in San Francisco, May 6-7), on affordably priced table wines that are suitable for restaurant Wine by the Glass programs.

This Trade & Media Day is designed to counteract the perception that Biodynamic wines are all $50 or more a bottle and made from grapes in vineyards plowed with horses. These under $20-25 wines actually do exist in plentiful supply in the marketplace.

Wines and wineries in this category include gorgeous red wines from South American producers - Emiliana in Chilé and Chakana (their Inkharri wines are all BD) in Argentina - as well as wines from U.S. producers.

Some of my favorites are from Oregon:

• Montinore Estate's Red Cap Pinot Noir ($20) (as well as its Alsatian varietals)
• Three Degrees Pinot Noir ($20)
• Cooper Mountain's Pinot Noir ($21 when you buy it by the case, includes free shipping); or its Cooper Hill Pinot Noir ($15 online) and Pinot Gris ($15 online)

Other great affordable priced Biodynamic wines - from California - are:

• Eco Terreno's Sauvignon Blanc ($22)
• Beckmen Vineyards Rosé ($25)

One of the best French producers in this category is:

• Chateau Maris - La Touge Syrah

Chateau Maris also makes a rosé (of Grenache) that's available in cans. I am really looking forward to trying that one!

Many of these wines will be poured at the IBWC Grand Tastings on May 7 in San Francisco. They will be available at the Trade & Media Grand Tasting from 4-6 (accredited trade and media only) or at the Consumer Grand Tasting - the Demeter Rocks! party (tickets on sale now - $75).

Get details on the conference web site here.

In Video: The Organic Motherlode Just Launched on YouTube

If you're into organics, you've got to go to EcoFarm, the annual gathering of organic farmers (which includes a small contingent of the wine grape growers).

Alas, I have yet to make it to this incredible event, but...Ecofarm just launched videos for the conference keynotes today. Huzzah.

Find them here:
https://eco-farm.org/news/2018-keynote-speakers-video

I saw (keynoters) Ray Archuleta at Soil Not Oil, along with David Johnson, and was totally wowed. I can't wait to dive into these videos, which seem like the perfect thing to watch on these cold, dark nights. (Apple TV makes it easy to watch them on the big TV screen at home.)

Thank you, EcoFarm, for the great work that you do and for sharing it out with the wider world.

New Film on Georgian Wine - Our Blood is Wine - Screens March 11 in Oakland

Another year, another wine documentary...this year's latest vintage is Our Blood is Wine, a tribute to Georgia's ancient winemaking traditions. If, like me, you want to go there but haven't made it yet, this film might be the next best thing. Either that or it will make you buy your ticket and get on a plane.

The film will be available in video on demand services starting March 20. But it's coming March 11 to Oakland's New Parkway Theater, in a special Sunday afternoon screening with the filmmaker, starring sommelier and Georgian winemakers featured in the film! Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online now.

There'll be a wine tasting event and Q and A at this event, so don't miss out!

Check out the trailer here:

 

You can watch an excerpt of the film from the Culinary Cinema web site; the film was exhibited as part of that series at the Berlin Film Festival.

Emily Railsback and crew

The film's collaborators hail from Chicago. Director and DP Emily Railsback made the film; sommelier Jeremy Quinn is the main character, who explores the world of Georgia's ancient and modern wine traditions on camera.

Enjoy these stills from the production.

The mechanics of moving a quivri

A chef's interpretation of a quivri - very clever indeed!

I love this photo from the production:

The film's Facebook page is also fun to look at. You can find it here.

Napa Chronicler James Conaway Completes His Trilogy - A Storytelling Masterpiece - with Napa at Last Light

There are not that many truly great writers who write nonfiction these days, but James Conaway stands as one of the few who can spin a jumble of facts into an enthralling tale. That is why I am so eagerly anticipating his newest book, Napa at Last Light, which will be published March 6.

Sacramento Bee wine writer Mike Dunne captured the essence of Conaway's career and his latest book better than anyone I can imagine in his profile published in yesterday's Sacramento Bee. Here's the link.

"....many of the principal players in the founding of Napa Valley's modern wine trade - several of whom were proponents of measures to maintain the region's agricultural essence - have died or sold out to a 'conglomerate class' that doesn't share their sense of community, sensitivity and vision. 

Conaway laments that many of the family wineries pivotal in establishing Napa Valley's reputation as a fine wine region - Mondavi, Martini, Beringer, Raymond, Stag's Leap, among others - are in the hands of corporate CEOs rather than scions. By contrast, he notes, many French wineries have been in the same family for centuries.  

"The ultimate goal of a corporation is profit - not community, not the environment, not agriculture. They are going to go where the profit is," Conaway said."

This is a conversation that is ongoing in Napa and Sonoma, the latter a place where rural residents are still just waking up to the total transformation of the priorities of the county board of supervisors as more and more Big Money (including the Wagner family from Napa) moves in.

In Napa, citizens were more organized against winery overdevelopment than in Sonoma, but not luckier in outcomes, even after voting in measures that take power over the Ag Preserve out of the hands of the (vulnerable) board of county supervisors and put limited powers in the hands of the voters, requiring public referendums for changes in the Ag Preserve laws.

Still, Napa locals have been unable to stop insiders in the county's (apparently corrupt) government - which forbade a referendum last year over an unusually obscure technicality - who oppose them in their fight to save the 17,000 oak trees that the Halls' (Texas developers who started a winery in Napa) Walt Ranch development want to cut down in order to subdivide a large tract into future ranchettes.

The Ag Preserve is the continuing vein throughout Conaway's trilogy - which if you haven't read yet, you might want to start now. It's winter and rainy and the perfect time to crawl under a blanket with a good book...or two...or three. The first book of the trilogy is also available from Audible.

As citizens and tourists alike contemplate the 50th anniversary of the Ag Preserve (passed, controversially,  in 1968 - the subject of Conaway's first book in the trilogy), there's no finer moment to pick up on the latest chapter of this engaging soap opera, holding up a mirror to 2018 in America.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/food-drink/wine/dunne-on-wine/article202232974.html#storylink=cpy

You can read an excerpt of the book on the publisher's site here.

Appearances

Conaway will be touring the Bay Area in mid March with scheduled appearances in the following locations:

• Berkeley: Tuesday, March 13, 7 pm
Books Inc. (on Shattuck Ave where Black Oak Books used to be)

• Santa Rosa: Wednesday, March 14, 6-8 pm
St. Francis Winery & Vineyards

• Calistoga: Thursday, March 15, 7 pm (advance tickets are free)
Copperfield's

POSTSCRIPT

Blake Gray has also written a review of the book on Wine Searcher, which has a lot of international traffic. Read it here.

At Eco Terreno, Chamomile Has Super Powers

Thanks to Jennifer Tincknell at Eco Terreno for posting this beautiful photo today of chamomile flowers, harvested at Eco Terreno's vineyards in Alexander Valley.

In Biodynamic vineyards, Chamomile is used, along with other plants, in making compost as well as compost teas. Strengthening the vine's health makes the plants better table to withstand pests, diseases and climatic variations.

Research conducted at Washington State University with Dr. John Reganold and Dr. Lynn Carpenter-Boggs has shown that the Biodynamic compost preparations have a significant impact on compost and composting - they make compost burn hotter, mature more quickly and yield higher nitrate levels than compost made without the preparations.

Want to learn more about Biodynamic viticulture? Attend the first International Biodynamic Wine Conference. Tickets go on sale March 1 for Biodynamic Producer Day, a day long program with leading experts from the U.S. and abroad.

Compost experts Will Bakx and August York will present a session on Biodynamic compost. Mike Benziger will be moderating a panel of experts on the Biodynamic preparations. The panel features Joseph Brinkley (vineyard director for Bonterra's 300 acres of Biodynamic vines), Matias Baker (a renowned prep expert), and Brook Levan of Sustainable Settings.

Reganold  will also be at the conference, talking about soil and the microbiome and his research.

Mark your calendar and get your ticket starting Thursday!

Save the Date: March 24 - I'll Be Talking in Sebastopol on "What's On Those Vines?"

Wine Water Watch has invited me to speak March 24 in Sebastopol from 1 to 3 pm on pesticides in vineyards.

I'll be showing how to use the public tools and data from state government including the Pesticide Use Report and the Agricultural Pesticide Mapping Tool to find out what is going on close to where you live.

Details here.

Illegal Pesticides Sold on Amazon

An incredible story that was not widely reported is this one, reported by the Seattle Times. The EPA recently stepped in to fine Amazon $1.2 million for selling many pesticides that are not supposed to be sold and are not approved for use in the U.S.

Read the story here.

Today I'm attending CCOF's Organic Hotspots conference and had the great privilege of hearing Brian Leahy, who heads the California State Dept. of Pesticide Regulation, give a presentation on how pesticides are regulated in the state and how California goes above and beyond the feds in pesticide regulation. I'll be writing about his presentation in the coming week.

Is It the Sulfites in Wine That Make You Sick? Take This Easy Test to Find Out

Thanks to Blake Gray for this helpful decision tree that should help readers understand what's really causing your wine reactions.
 

In most cases, it ain't the sulfites. It's usually the histamines or the additives or added yeasts. 

Belgium Based Concours Mondial Predicts a Bright Future for the "Organic Wine Revolution"

"The Organic wine revolution will continue well into 2018," predicts Concours Mondial in its newest article, Wine Trends That May Shape 2018.

Here's what the international competition's staff says on this topic (boldings mine), reflecting a perspective that is more European and global than the general (mostly non-existent) message in American wine industry circles:

"Consumers are more knowledgeable and curious as to what goes into the wine they consume. Just as foodies focus on what is on their plate, wine lovers will seek out wines made with attention to detail. In 2018, retailers and restaurants will have to figure out new ways of attracting consumers who see the “making of” wine as a key aspect. 

Over the last 3 years, we have seen remarkable growth of nearly 80 % in organic and biodynamic wine entries in the CMB. This is a result of strong consumer interest in both categories. 

Recognizing this market development, we introduced a new category dedicated to organic and biodynamic wines for the first time in 2017. 

The top five countries awarded in the organic category were Italy, France, Spain, China and Portugal. They were closely followed by 3 countries from Eastern Europe: Greece, Bulgaria, and the Republic of Moldova. 

In 2017, the CMB panel distinguished as a genuine “Revelation” in the organic category “Selendi Sarnic Shiraz 2013” from…Turkey. 

We expect more and more key players from various countries across the world to start applying the principles of organic and biodynamic wine growing. Consumers will show an increased awareness of the origin and production methods for wines, favouring organic and local products." 

It's Live, It's Happening, It's Real - The International Biodynamic Wine Conference (and Web Site) Launches!

It's been a slow month for blogging and now you'll know why - I've been working hard - very hard - as the Conference Program Director for Demeter USA's first International Biodynamic Wine Conference.

With my colleagues Monty Waldin (international Biodynamic wine expert extraordinare), Elizabeth Candelario (President of Demeter USA and previously a wine marketer for 25 years), and Glenn McGourty, (a friend and a soil scientist, U.C. Farm Advisor, Demeter board member and researcher), we've put together an amazing collection of brilliant panelists, talking about the coolest part of the wine world.

We hope you'll check out the program and attend! Producers can enjoy a full day of educational programs while Trade and Media (invited guests) will have their own special day focused on their perspective. All are invited to Grand Tastings of Biodynamic wines from around the world. Come and enjoy!

Visit the conference web site to check out all the great speakers, panels and events. 

BIODYNAMIC PRODUCER DAY

Day 1 of the conference is for Biodynamic Producers and is focused on science (soil and the microbiome), Biodynamic viticulture, winemaking, the emerging Biodynamic food and wine marketplace, distribution and business topics. It's a varied and exciting program.

Starting March 1, conference registration for Biodynamic Producer Day will be open to all. The cost is $250 (which includes the full day of programs and a bag lunch). (Demeter members enjoy advance registration before March 1 with special rates - contact Demeter USA if you are a Demeter member and have not been contacted via email this week). 

TRADE AND MEDIA DAY 

Day 2 of the conference is by invitation only for trade and media. (Invites and ticketing are being handled by Balzac Communications.) There is also a Grand Tasting with Demeter certified wineries from the U.S., South America and Europe participating. 

The cost for accredited trade and media is $50 for the day (which includes a full day of programs and a bag lunch).

DEMETER ROCKS - CONSUMER GRAND TASTING AND PARTY

On March 15, tickets will go on sale for Demeter Rocks, for consumers (and industry who didn't come to the Trade and Media Grand Tasting) with Biodynamic bites, the international Grand Tasting and live music. You won't want to miss this party! (Ticket prices to be announced.) 

Check out the conference web site and programs which provide a wealth of information on the event!

CONFERENCE APP

Conference participants will be able to stay in touch with each other before during and after the conference with the conference app. (App use is limited to paid conference attendees.) 

Glyphosate Ban Back on German Agenda: Rogue Pro-Glyphosate Ag Minister Sings a New Tune

When Christian Schmidt, the Ag minister of Germany, voted yes to renew glyphosate's license to be sold in Europe last fall, it sent shockwaves through European circles, where the herbicide had become a political hot potato. But with a giant deal between Monsanto (which makes the herbicide) and German-based Bayer deal in the offing, it wasn't that hard to see what was up.

Schmidt's vote to go pro glyphosate renewal was not, however, in accordance with the wishes of his party or the country's leadership. He'd gone rogue, baby, rogue. Now he's been reigned in and forced to agree to a 180.

Angela Merkel's new government reigns in the rogue Ag
minister who prolonged the use of glyphosate in the EU

This week Germany's political leaders announced a new coalition government headed by Merkel that rearranges much - but the glyphosate issue remains, with the majority of the country favoring a ban.

Anti-glyphosate proponents are continuing fight, and this week Schmidt told the press that its use would be limited in Germany and "as soon as possible essentially terminated," according to European press.

No date was set for a ban to take place.

The draft from the new government states; “We will with a systematic minimalization strategy significantly restrict use of plant protection chemicals containing glyphosate, with the goal of fundamentally ending usage as fast as possible.

“We will develop alternatives jointly with the agricultural sector as part of an arable farming strategy which will regulate environmentally friendly and nature-compatible use of plant protection chemicals.”

Green Wine Insights: An Interview with Eco Wine Survey Author and Sonoma State Wine Business Professor Liz Thach, MW

At the end of 2017, Professor Liz Thach, MW, released the results of a survey on eco-certified wines conducted with her MBA students at the Sonoma State Wine Business program. (I originally published a post about it in late Dec.) 

The survey asked the question: would consumers pay more for eco certified wines? Though it was an informal survey, the results were noteworthy. You can find the results of the survey as well as graphs of the data on her site. 

I asked Liz if she would discuss more about the survey and sharing some of the background and insights it gave her. Thank you to Liz for agreeing to participate in our phone interview.   

Liz Thach, MW

What led you to conduct a survey on this topic?

I find that a lot of Millenials are really fascinated by the concepts of sustainable, Biodynamic and organic wines as one of the things they like to talk about a lot.

And so we ended up doing this study to try to understand if wine consumers understood eco wine certifications and if they would pay more for them.

We did another study related to this several years ago on this, too, where we analyzed the values of wine consumers - trying to find out what types of consumers were more apt to purchase eco label wines (sustainable, organic or Biodynamic) and we did find that there’s a certain type of consumer that’s really attracted to purchasing these types of wines. 

So this latest survey, we did it in May of 2017 (published Dec. 20, 2018), was an online survey. This was what is called a convenience sample. It’s not a random sample ,so we can’t say that it’s applicable to the whole nation. But it just sort of gives you a taste of what people are thinking. And it does have a large number of Millennials in the sample, if you look at the breakdown.

How were the participants selected?

In a convenience sample, you just reach out to an email list of people that you know. The criteria was they have to be 21 or above and they had to be a wine drinker. So we only wanted to talk to wine drinkers. 

When I do a representative or random sample, I have to hire a survey company and it’s much, much more expensive. So we can only afford to do that sometimes. 

A convenience sample can’t be generalized to a whole population. And we only had 301 respondents, which is enough for a sampling, but, if I could do it again, I would love to do a much larger sample - and across the nation.

What did the students learn from the survey?

Well first of all, I think we were all of us surprised to see that people were willing pay more for a bottle. 

 

A large percentage, 85 percent or above, were all willing to pay at least a dollar more a bottle, which would definitely work in the wine industry. And then a good number were willing to pay up to $2 a bottle, but then after that it dropped pretty abruptly - except for Biodynamic. 

The Biodynamic category was interesting. The people who wanted the Biodynamic continued to be willing to pay more for that.

Why do you think that might be?

I’d love to do more research to find out why; all we can do without more data is just surmise. 

We gave people definitions of sustainable, organic and Biodynamic. So part of what we were trying to do - sometimes a survey does this - is education. Sometimes you educate people just by doing a survey. And so we wanted to make sure that people participating in the survey understood the differences. 

And I think if you look at Biodynamics, it’s about the earth, it’s about bringing systems back into balance, and I think that’s pretty motivational to a certain segment of the population.

And how did you come up with these definitions?

We used them out of published definitions on the topic.

 

I think the definitions were really the crux of the survey. Did the students think that they had gained insights? 

I’ve been teaching for more than 20 years and I find that this generation is much more interested in this topic than I’ve found 15 years ago in my classes. They were very excited about the survey. I mean this is important to them. 

If you look at the values of Millenials, you know that responsibly produced products - organically produced, environmentally friendly, socially responsible - are important to them, and so they were thrilled with this survey.

What aspects of the survey do you think the industry should pay attention to in terms of retailers or wineries?

Our study focused on consumers and what was the consumer perception is. And what we find in this most recent study of consumers is consumers are willing to pay a small premium.

How did you decide to focus on a price premium as the data point for the survey?

Well, our program focuses on the business side of wine. We don’t teach enology or viticulture, and we focus mainly on marketing and finance, and we wanted to take a look at that piece. 

We couldn’t find anybody else who had actually done that type of survey before - asking consumers are you willing to pay more for an organic or biodynamic or sustainable wine.

(Note re consumer price premium in the marketplace today: currently there is no price premium in the market place for organic or Biodynamic wines - i.e. a Bonterra table wine sells for the same price as wines of similar quality.)

(Note re farming costs: whether it costs more to farm organically or Biodynamically after the initial three year conversion is a debatable issue with strong arguments from producers on both sides of the fence. Current data from U.C. suggests that Biodynamic vineyards are competitive in terms of costs. Find the full report here.) 

Have you taken a look at some of the studies on consumer preference for organic wines in Europe? And, if so, how does it compare with your survey data?

Yes, in my earlier study (2010; link here) - we did a comprehensive review of organics around the world, and yes, we found that in Europe, in certain parts of Europe, especially that there’s a larger percentage of consumers that are interested in buying organic products.

What do you see on the horizon?

In the U.S. now we’re seeing that the younger people - not just the Millennials but this new generation - which has two names (Gen Z or the I Generation) - is even more interested in food source. And they’re almost getting fanatic about it. 

They read ingredient labels, they’re wanting to know how the food was prepared, where it was sourced from, how the animals are treated...it’s become even more important with the younger generation. I think there’s definitely more growth in this area

Vive La France - More Slides on Organic Vines in France

Florent Guhl, Director, Agence Bio

Perhaps it is because we have such little published data on organic vines in the U.S. that I love these slides from the Millesime Bio conference, where organic wines are taken seriously as a growing part of the industry.

While I published a few slides from the Agence Bio conference presentation, today's slides come from a study put together by Agrex Consulting for SudVinBio, the group that puts on the conference.

WHERE THE FRENCH VINES ARE

The chart below shows you the percentage of certified organic vines by region. You'll see that PACA (Provence-Alps-Cotes-D'Azurs) has the highest percentage - 17.8% - but is actually not the largest when it comes to acreage.

PACA has 40,000 acres of organic vines, but the leader in acreage is Occitaine (includes Languedoc-Roussillon) with more than 62,000 acres of certified vines and another 10,700 acres in transition to certification. About 35% of all organic vines in France are in Occitaine.

Also you can compare this chart to the one from Agence Bio (see previous post) which breaks down the regions on more granular levels. Bordeaux looks to be less than 2% organic in the Agence Bio map. Nouvelle Aquitaine includes the Dordogne and other regions, which accounts for the 5.1% statistic. (Read Caro Feely's latest book for a first hand look on that story from an organic producer on the ground there).

Overall Spain and Italy outpace French organic vineyard acreage, but France's 9% (and growing) statistic far outpaces California, which is "underperforming" at 2.4%.

WINE SALES - EXPORT MARKET IS ALMOST HALF

This second slide is a telling one. Almost half of the French organic wines are exported. Overall the organic wine sector is worth 975 million Euros which amounts to $1.2 billion in U.S. dollars. Nothing to sneeze at.

Organic wines are exported more than other French wines with 47% (in 2016) going abroad. In comparison, only 32% of all French wines are exported.

The economic value of organic wines has more than tripled from 2010 to 2016 which shows that this is a fast growing market.



Read the rest of this presentation and others like it at the conference web site. (Most of the slides are in French; but there is one presentation in English from a Dutch wine writer. You can also use Google Translate for the French presentations.)