Biodynamic farming methods at Alger Vineyards

“Don’t Panic! It’s Biodynamic!

Biodynamic wine goes past merely organic.  It is a lifestyle for the earth, vine and wine. “Bio” means life and “Dynamic” means energy.  Alger Vineyards embraces the ideas and practices of biodynamic farming. Originally when the vineyard was planted in the 70’s, chemical fertilizers as well as chemical pest and weed control were the farming practices. In the 90’s we chose to stop using chemicals to enhance the soil and focused on organic growing methods.  Trout were planted in the irrigation pond for fertilizing. Cover crops of Crimson Clover, Hairy Vetch, Fava Beans, Buckeye, Lupine, and Rye were seeded between the rows to enhance the soil. The soil is also fertilized with composted plant and animal manure, seaweed, powdered rock and sediments. Volcanic cinder fines from a local cinder pit were also added to the soil, to hold moisture and increase mineral content within the soil.

By the year 2000, we were seeing improved quality in our vines, grapes and soil. Our little ecosystem was returning to a healthy, original state. During one of our harvests we were accompanied by hundreds of Dragonflies that hovered above us to feed on the leaf hoppers that were shaken out the vines as we harvested the grapes!  As the crew worked up and down the rows, our little winged friends were reminding us of our self contained ecosystem and how we were integrating the vineyard with the surrounding environment.

We believe that our area of growing is unique in character. Biodynamic farming will be able to capsulate this uniqueness of our estate grown grapes for our wines. A biodynamic farmer must maintain a close connection with the land. These practices go beyond organic standards to heal the earth for future generations.

Biodynamic farming techniques utilize the vineyards natural resources to produce the highest quality of grapes without the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, or genetically modified organisms. Biodynamic farming is a proactive approach that looks at the individuality of each property and adds back with natural plant and animal life to emulate nature and create a self-sustainable environment.

Reasons for Biodynamic Farming:

• Vines of Biodynamic farming are not given chemical fertilizers:
• Because these diminish the nutritional value of the fruit
• Because these diminish the taste of the fruit
• Because these disrupt the balance of trace elements
• Because these pollute the water tables (nitrates)
• Vines of Biodynamic farming are not given weed killers:
• Because they are often absorbed by the plant and when accumulated can be dangerous for animals and humans.
• Because they destroy the flora, micro-fauna, and thus the life of the soil itself by “sterilizing” the soil of its beneficial microbial life.
• Vines of biodynamic farming are not given chemical pesticides:
• Because they destroy the fungi and insects, which are harmful to the vine and also the predators which help to maintain the vine’s organic balance.
• Because some pesticides leave a residue on the fruit.