At a glance
A glass of biodynamic wine can boost your ethical consumer credentials as much as it can give you a barrel of laughs. Certified organic or natural wines increasingly frequent cellars and take centre stage on wine lists as thirsty pundits awaken to the fact that what’s in our glass is as important as what’s on our plate. According to WRAP, the carbon footprint of an average bottle of wine is around 1.28kg CO2 – the equivalent to driving three miles in a Honda Accord. So, for those looking to minimise their impact we need to rethink our botte behaviours.
The spiritual, ethical and ecological approach to viticulture that characterises biodynamic wine cultivates grapes with a provenance that would make you proud to pour.
With a hint of holistic, these unique farming principles pioneered in the 1920’s by Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner, seek to use a single self-sustaining ecosystem, from the biodiversity to the natural materials, soils and waste management practices. Inherently sustainable, biodynamic vineyards operate to protect the land and cultivate it in a way that nurtures its state for future generations. Vines that flourish under these methods follow harvesting in line with the lunar calendar and are void of synthetics, chemicals, fertilisers and sulphates. It’s also heard through the grapevine; the absence of the latter is conducive to appeasing the remanence of a hangover as fewer sulphates prompt the body to digest alcohol as food!
These raw tasting, low-intervention alcohols are further distinguished by rituals that see compost stuffed into cow-horns and buried amongst the vines, think Viking hats nestled in the ground with your grapes.
With over 2000 biodynamic wine producers operating across the world, we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to guilt-free sipping.
From sparkles to skin contact whites, head to Pebble Magazine for the full feature on the best ten biodynamic wines worth uncorking to make you a sustainable sommelier.
This article was published in partnership with Pebble Magazine, the UK’s leading magazine for sustainable living.
If you enjoy this article, be sure to take a look at the most sustainable alcohols on the market.
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