Events

Wines of nature
«Cigar Clan» №6 (30) December 2006 — January 2007

The idea of biodynamic farming was born a century ago thanks to the Austrian Rudolf Steiner, also founder of anthroposophy.

He viewed agriculture as part of global ecosystem and took into account the influence of planets and stars. Modern followers of the philosophy aspire to have wines which fully reflect the character of the place of origin.

Nicolas Joly from historic Coulee de Serrant in the Loire Valley is today’s leader of biodynamic winemaking. In 2001 Joly founded The Return to Terroirs movement which now counts 120 producers all over the world. Its main principles are active work with the soil, ban on artificial chemical substances, minimal interference in the process of winemaking. The members of the group hold tastings in key cities of the world from Amsterdam to New York each year.

In the middle of November leading biodynamic estates of Europe held first group tasting in Russia. Fifty winemakers from France, Spain, Italy, Germany and other countries came especially to Moscow to participate in the event. From the Russian side the organizers were wine journalist Eleonora Scholes and Vysoky Vkus publishing house.

The following renowned producers offered their wines for tasting — Pierre Frick, Marcel Deiss, Zind Humbrecht in Alsace; Pierre Morey, Trapet, A et P de Villaine in Burgundy; Fleury and Bedel in Champagne; Coulee de Serrant and Domaine de l’Ecu in the Loire Valley; Descendientes de J.Palacios and Telmo Rodriguez in Spain and others.