WHAT DOES BIODYNAMIC MEAN ON A WINE LABEL?

Biodynamic is appearing on more and more wine labels. But unlike organic, most people have no idea what it actually means — and wine producers are not always great at explaining it.

THE SIMPLE VERSION

Biodynamic farming treats the farm as a self-sustaining ecosystem. It goes beyond organic — no synthetic chemicals, like organic — but also works with natural cycles, uses specific plant and mineral preparations to enhance soil health, and often aligns certain farming activities with lunar and astronomical calendars.

WHAT CERTIFICATION SCHEMES EXIST?

The main biodynamic certifying body is Demeter — an international organisation that verifies biodynamic farming practices. Biodyvin is a French certifying body specifically for wine. Both require significantly more rigorous standards than conventional organic certification.

When you see Demeter on a wine label, it means an independent organisation has verified the farming practices meet strict biodynamic standards.

IS BIODYNAMIC BETTER THAN ORGANIC?

All biodynamic wine is organic — but not all organic wine is biodynamic. Biodynamic goes further in terms of the holistic approach to farming, the specific preparations used, and the philosophy of working in harmony with natural cycles.

Whether it produces better wine is debated. What is clear is that biodynamic producers tend to be deeply committed to the land and produce wines with real character.

BIODYNAMIC WINE AT LOCO WINES

Four wines in the Loco range — PROST!, Rizzling, The Groover, and Left on Red — come from the Hoch family in Kremstal, Austria, who have farmed biodynamically for over 20 years. The commitment to biodynamic farming is not a marketing claim. It is how the Hoch family has farmed for two decades, on land they have worked since the 1640s. Available at locowines.co.uk.