Introduction to Biodynamic Viticulture 2025
Starts January 21 2025 - pre-enrol
Our Introduction to Biodynamic Viticulture course is ideal if you have a basic knowledge of viticulture and would like to develop a biodynamic approach. You might be planning a new vineyard, wanting to convert your present plot, or selling or marketing biodynamic wine. If so, this is the course for you!
Sessions are online with a series of seminars, an extensive resource library for additional personal study, and video interviews with experts from across the world of biodynamic viticulture.
What you'll learn
What biodynamic viticulture is all about – key recent trends and ongoing growth
We start by looking at the growth of biodynamic vineyards around the world, including trends in the number of certified vineyards and the historical context of growing vines biodynamically. Many people want to know the difference between biodynamic and organic viticulture, and we cover that, as well as the emergence of the phrase 'natural wine'.
Why winegrowers convert to biodynamic
Why do people grow wine biodynamically? Every grower has their own reasons for doing so – whether practical, economic, ethical, historical, intuitive or spiritual. We look at these through interviews, stories, videos, and articles. You'll find many of the reasons inspiring.
How to do it – you can grow vines the biodynamic way
How does biodynamics live in a viticultural context? We start with the principle of the farm as a living organism as set out by Rudolf Steiner – and how this relates to a vineyard. There is an easy connection with the core concept of terroir in winegrowing. We then look at the use of the biodynamic preparations and other natural treatment methods in supporting the health and well-being of life in the vineyard. The influence of the lunar cycles and natural rhythms of life are also covered, so that we give you the full picture.
Demeter – the gold standard for certification
The key certification label orginates from Demeter International, the Demeter trademark and the international standards by which all biodynamic winegrowers are certified. Here we give you the main requirements for a vineyard to be certified as biodynamic, with guidance on how to begin the process.
We will be running a two-hour zoom session, led by Robin, every other Tuesday from 7-9pm (UK time) on the following dates:
21 January 2025
4 February 2025
18 February 2025
4 March 2025
18 March 2025
These webinars are recorded so if you miss a session don't panic – you'll be able to catch up in your own time!
Viticulture Course
Re: Viticulture Course
We still have some spaces on this year’s Introduction to Biodynamic Viticulture course if you are interested, along with some amazing new speakers and interviews.
The first session will include a talk by Eduard Tscheppe from Gut Oggau, one of the leading Austrian biodynamic winegrowers whose natural, biodynamic wines are sold all over the world. The course also includes new interviews with Ancre Hill, one of the pioneers of biodynamic viticulture in the UK, and Wijngaard Dassemus from the Netherlands who make natural, biodynamic wine from hybrid vine varieties with a zero chemical approach in the vineyard.
More details below about the course…
The Introduction to Biodynamic Viticulture course is run by the Biodynamic Agricultural College, and begins on 21st January 2025. The course introduces the main theories and principles of Biodynamic Viticulture and how they can be applied in practice. It would be well suited to introduce people to biodynamics in a viticultural context, to train staff who are just learning about biodynamic approaches, also for vineyard managers who have some experience working with biodynamics but want to deepen their understanding and learn new techniques, as well as for other people in the wine industry who would like to learn more about biodynamics and wine.
More details of the course here … https://learning.bdacollege.org.uk/cour ... lture-2025
Topics covered include:
- principles and practice of biodynamic viticulture
- the global and cultural context of biodynamic viticulture
- motivations and inspiration for biodynamic winegrowers
- Demeter and the global certification standards.
The course is led by Robin Snowdon, co-owner, vineyard manager and winemaker for Limeburn Hill Vineyard in southwest England and former chair of the Demeter UK Certification board. Other contributors will include Eduard Tscheppe (Gut Oggau), Alex Thorp (Wines Under the Bonnet), as well as access to interviews with Judith Beck (Burgenland, Austria), Hugo Stewart (Domaine Hugo), Deidre Heekin (La Garagista estate, Vermont), Jean du Plessis (Ancre Hill Estate), Nick Wenman & Alex Valsecchi (Albury Vineyard, England), Doug Wregg (Director Les Caves de Pyrene), Ben Walgate (The Winery Rye, England), Michael Schmelzer (Monte Bernardi wine estate, Chianti), George Meissner (teacher and winemaker Roussillon, France), Birgit Braunstein (Weingut Braunstein, Burgenland), plus others.
The course runs from 21 January - 18 March 2025 with zoom webinars every other Tuesday (and recorded for catch up). Spaces are limited and already filling up so we encourage you to register sooner rather than later! Learn more and register on the BDA College website. https://learning.bdacollege.org.uk/cour ... lture-2025
What past participants say about the course:
“The teaching quality was outstanding. I have been fortunate to have welcomed so many wine writers and winemakers from all over the world over the years in my various roles…for the past three decades but Robin is one of the best speakers ever, as well as fantastic content so well thought out and delivered.”
“Great content and lots of extra information and resources.”
“The materials Robin created, shared and presented were great. He gave a full view of a year in biodynamic viticulture - what to do at what time - I found that incredibly useful.”
“I loved how intimate the course felt, which is not easy to achieve over zoom!”
_._,_._,_
The first session will include a talk by Eduard Tscheppe from Gut Oggau, one of the leading Austrian biodynamic winegrowers whose natural, biodynamic wines are sold all over the world. The course also includes new interviews with Ancre Hill, one of the pioneers of biodynamic viticulture in the UK, and Wijngaard Dassemus from the Netherlands who make natural, biodynamic wine from hybrid vine varieties with a zero chemical approach in the vineyard.
More details below about the course…
The Introduction to Biodynamic Viticulture course is run by the Biodynamic Agricultural College, and begins on 21st January 2025. The course introduces the main theories and principles of Biodynamic Viticulture and how they can be applied in practice. It would be well suited to introduce people to biodynamics in a viticultural context, to train staff who are just learning about biodynamic approaches, also for vineyard managers who have some experience working with biodynamics but want to deepen their understanding and learn new techniques, as well as for other people in the wine industry who would like to learn more about biodynamics and wine.
More details of the course here … https://learning.bdacollege.org.uk/cour ... lture-2025
Topics covered include:
- principles and practice of biodynamic viticulture
- the global and cultural context of biodynamic viticulture
- motivations and inspiration for biodynamic winegrowers
- Demeter and the global certification standards.
The course is led by Robin Snowdon, co-owner, vineyard manager and winemaker for Limeburn Hill Vineyard in southwest England and former chair of the Demeter UK Certification board. Other contributors will include Eduard Tscheppe (Gut Oggau), Alex Thorp (Wines Under the Bonnet), as well as access to interviews with Judith Beck (Burgenland, Austria), Hugo Stewart (Domaine Hugo), Deidre Heekin (La Garagista estate, Vermont), Jean du Plessis (Ancre Hill Estate), Nick Wenman & Alex Valsecchi (Albury Vineyard, England), Doug Wregg (Director Les Caves de Pyrene), Ben Walgate (The Winery Rye, England), Michael Schmelzer (Monte Bernardi wine estate, Chianti), George Meissner (teacher and winemaker Roussillon, France), Birgit Braunstein (Weingut Braunstein, Burgenland), plus others.
The course runs from 21 January - 18 March 2025 with zoom webinars every other Tuesday (and recorded for catch up). Spaces are limited and already filling up so we encourage you to register sooner rather than later! Learn more and register on the BDA College website. https://learning.bdacollege.org.uk/cour ... lture-2025
What past participants say about the course:
“The teaching quality was outstanding. I have been fortunate to have welcomed so many wine writers and winemakers from all over the world over the years in my various roles…for the past three decades but Robin is one of the best speakers ever, as well as fantastic content so well thought out and delivered.”
“Great content and lots of extra information and resources.”
“The materials Robin created, shared and presented were great. He gave a full view of a year in biodynamic viticulture - what to do at what time - I found that incredibly useful.”
“I loved how intimate the course felt, which is not easy to achieve over zoom!”
_._,_._,_