Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

bio-dynamic leaning

English answer:

winelist especially with wines produced with the biodynamic method

Added to glossary by LindaLattuca
Dec 30, 2015 02:45
8 yrs ago
1 viewer *
English term

bio-dynamic leaning

English Marketing Tourism & Travel
Whistle-wetters come in the form of an eclectic, natural and bio-dynamic leaning wine list, not to mention the chef{ut1}s choice, a classic kickin{ut2} caipirinha.

http://www.peninsula.com/en/PenCities/chicago/la-sirena-clan...
Change log

Jan 13, 2016 08:12: LindaLattuca Created KOG entry

Discussion

Charles Davis Dec 30, 2015:
EU rules The latest Council Regulation on organic production (834/2007) mentions the word "biodynamic" just once, in Article 12.1 (c) on plant production: "the use of biodynamic preparations is allowed".
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:320...

I mention this simply to show that the EU regards biodynamic as a form of organic. The practical difference in production seems to be that biodynamic is organic plus Steiner's herbal sprays and composting techniques. From the wine industry's point of view it is understandable that the difference is accentuated.

I think my statement that "biodynamic refers to what is commonly called organic agriculture" should have been expressed differently; I accept that point, and although I then said that it "specifically refers to a form of organic farming with a certain esoteric or even mystical perspective", that statement was perhaps a tendentious and over-simplified. And in the asker's context, it's quite true that "biodynamic" as opposed to "organic" leanings imply some sort of commitment to a set of ideas, which should be noted.
Charles Davis Dec 30, 2015:
What I mean, really, is that aside from what practitioners of biodynamics profess to believe (interconnection between terrestrial and celestial energy sources and so forth), are there really things they do or refrain from doing in production that are not true of any other form of organic production? Is the difference just conceptual, or is it practical? I don't know for sure, but I'm finding it hard to find any substantial evidence that there are any such differences, given that "organic" farming, at least in the UK (of which I have some knowledge), involves quite a range of practices.
Charles Davis Dec 30, 2015:
@Linda You are right: "biodynamic" farming makes claims that are not made by other kinds of "organic" farming. I did mention in my answer, albeit in passing, that it involves a particular series of ideas, and that is further explained in my reference.

It is also true that biodynamic wine, in order to use that name, has be certified by a particular body.

But it is also true that considerable scepticism has been expressed in the wine industry as to whether there is any practical difference between biodynamic and other organic methods in relation to wine production, given that the term "organic" is subject to a range of definitions in different places. German legislation aside (and "totally different" is an exaggeration), I don't think it can reasonably be denied that biodynamic wine is a form of organic wine (one of several) with a distinctive philosophical underpinning and a difference of certification and marketing, but little systematic difference in production practice.

So although I agree that "biodynamic" is a distinctive term, and it is worth pointing that out, I think it's legitimate to treat it as a form of the generic term "organic" in this question.
LindaLattuca Dec 30, 2015:
Biodynamic is a different concept than organic. Biodynamic refers to the philosophical ideas of Rudolph Steiner. Those who apply this philosophy to the production methods respect the cycles of nature. Biodynamic is considered even better than organic. In Europe, Germany is the country with the highest numbers of winemakers using biodynamic. Biodynamic and organic are totally different in terms of legislation, methods of production, certification. Don't confuse one for the other. Sorry, but I worked in the organic market for years, in Italy and UK. So, the reply I've read is not correct from a conceptual point of view.

Responses

+5
5 hrs
Selected

winelist especially with wines produced with the biodynamic method

Please, read what I have written in the discussion, below.
Biodynamic is not organic from so many points of view: Production methods, legislation and certification.
Peer comment(s):

agree Armorel Young
7 mins
Thank you, Armorel.
neutral Charles Davis : "Biodynamic is not organic": I can't accept this, sorry. That there are differences is quite true, but the differences are very small compared with those between organic and non-organic production. In practice is it largely a marketing issue.
41 mins
agree Shera Lyn Parpia : Biopdynamic means a lot more than simply organic.
1 hr
Thanks a lot.
agree Yvonne Gallagher : Agree with Shera Lynn as biodynamic is a distinct method which is certified. You should really have said "biodynamic is not simply organic"https://www.biodynamics.com/what-is-biodynamics
1 hr
Thank you
agree Mark Nathan : Given that the biodynamic approach focuses on balance and the health of the soil, it is not surprising that it has become so popular with winegrowers. Wine list.
3 hrs
Thanks
agree Woodstock (X) : The soil quality is the key to the superior taste of Demeter products over "normal" organic products. I know this from 30 years of consuming organic food. I don't agree with Steiner on anything else, but he was onto something in this case.
12 days
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
+3
1 hr

favouring or primarily consisting of wines produced organically

"Biodynamic" or "bio-dynamic" refers to what is commonly called "organic" agriculture, which really means ecologically aware, natural, avoiding artificial inputs and processes (such as artificial fertilizers). So it refers to wine made from grapes that are produced organically, and also by a wine-making process that is "natural" and avoids chemical inputs. "Biodynamic" specifically refers to a form of organic farming with a certain esoteric or even mystical perspective.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodynamic_agriculture

(Exactly what is or is not included in "organic" or "biodynamic" farming is not always as clear as people assume; they are to some extent a marketing terms.)

"Leaning" expresses tendency or inclination; it means that the collection of wines offered in the restaurant tend to be of this type; its wine list "leans towards" biodynamically produced wines. It doesn't mean they all are, necessarily, but suggests that many or most are and that this is the restaurant's policy.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 hrs (2015-12-30 09:02:49 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

In response to Linda's point: it should be noted that in several respects "biodynamic" wine is not exactly the same thing as "organic" wine, and in order to be labelled "biodynamic" a wine has to be certified by a particular body. In the UK it is an organisation called Demeter, which issues a quite elaborate set of production standards. So the term "biodynamic" does come with baggage attached, as you might say, and a restaurant that favours specifically biodynamic wine as opposed to organic wine in general could be seen as favouring the specific philosophy behind the biodynamic movement. That should be noted.

So I should have said "wine produced biodynamically" rather than "organically". I was trying to make it easier, at the expense of precision.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 7 hrs (2015-12-30 10:11:57 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I remain unconvinced that the difference between biodynamic and organic is a radical one. The radical difference is between both of these and traditional non-organic. The following is from a scientific study by Jennifer R. Reeve et al., "Soil and Winegrape Quality in Biodynamically and Organically Managed Vineyards",American Journal of Enology and Viticulture, 56 (4) (2005): 367–376:

"Wines produced from biodynamically grown grapes have received increasing attention. Similar to organic agriculture, biodynamics eliminates synthetic chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The primary difference between the two farming systems is that biodynamics uses a series of soil and plant amendments, called preparations, said to stimulate the soil and enhance plant health and quality of produce. Whether these preparations actually augment soil or winegrape quality is unclear and controversial. [...]
The study consisted of two treatments, biodynamic and organic (the control), each replicated four times in a randomized, complete block design. All management practices were the same in all plots, except for the addition of the preparations to the biodynamic treatment. No differences were found in soil quality in the first six years. Nutrient analyses of leaf tissue, clusters per vine, yield per vine, cluster weight, and berry weight showed no differences. [...]
Biodynamic preparations may affect winegrape canopy and chemistry but were not shown to affect the soil parameters or tissue nutrients measured in this study."
http://www.ajevonline.org/content/56/4/367.abstract

Linda Chalker-Scott, a Washington State University horticulturalist, claims in "The Myth of Biodynamic Agriculture" that what distinguishes "biodynamic" from "organic" is pseudo-scientific:

"Given the thinness of the scientific literature and the lack of clear data supporting biodynamic preparations, it would be wise to discontinue the use of the term “biodynamic” when referring to organic agriculture. I am guessing many academics, both theoretical and applied, have no idea where the roots of biodynamic agriculture lie: the fact that “biodynamic” is used interchangeably with “organic” in the literature seems to support this conclusion. For me and many other agricultural scientists, usage of the term is a red flag that automatically questions the validity of whatever else is being discussed."
http://puyallup.wsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/403/2015/03...

The conclusion seems to be that for practical, though not for marketing, purposes, biodynamic is indeed organic, and that claims that it is much more have not been scientifically substantiated.

Peer comment(s):

agree Yasutomo Kanazawa
25 mins
Thank you, Yasutomo-san, and Happy New Year!
agree P.L.F. Persio : As usual, excellent explanation.
2 hrs
Thanks very much, missdutch :)
agree Robert Carter : Since the asker is trying to understand what the English really means here, you might have been better off with "wines produced using pseudo-scientific new-age terminology developed by artful marketers to diddle gullible consumers". Cheers!
6 days
Far be it from me, Robert! Cheers :)
Something went wrong...
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search