Happy new year everyone!  Our new year's resolution is to get the Biodynamic Wines & Vines Trade Committee kicked off and rocking. We are planning a call on Thursday January 17 at 9am pacific. Please join us! The agenda:

1. What areas are most important and that we can make the most effort?
2. What resources available to us?
3. Who can be a lead on each project?
4. Establish the next meeting and concrete objectives prior to each meeting.

Thanks so much to Rob Izzo of Eco Terreno who has graciously volunteered to chair the committee.

Call in info:

In other news- we are really excited to share the draft Messaging Architecture developed by Wild Hive and a wide variety of folks from our Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), Wines & Vines, and Farm Trade Committees.  The intention of this work is to take what can be a daunting amount of Biodynamic information and organize it such a way to create consistency in the way we talk to consumers about Biodynamic farming and the products that result.  This isn't sexy marketing copy but more the foundation we can use to build website and brochure content, press releases, media campaigns, label copy, and more.  We will be reviewing it on our call this Thursday.

WINES & VINES TRADE COMMITTEE CHAIR: Rob Izzo

MARKETING & MEDIA OUTREACH
Focus on the development of messaging and communication strategies; outreach to wine writers and other media; consumer and media tastings; and other marketing and public relations activities.
Chair: TBD
Sub-committee members: Rachel Newman of Bonterra, Janie Heuck of Brooks Winery, Lisa Batson of Frey Vineyards, Peter Work of Ampelos, Josephine Musco of Chateau Bellevue, Lisa Bell of Natural Merchants, Laura Fung and Phillip Anderson of Mountain People, Rachelle Mesheau of Hamel Family Wines, Jack Tregenza of Johan Vineyards, Ryan Johnson of King Estate, and Bill Sweat of Winderlea Vineyard & Winery

Industry Engagement
Focus on retailer, on-premise, and "TasteMaker" outreach and education; trade conferences; trade tastings; BD "Bootcamps" for wine buyers.
Chair: Bree Boskov- MS and Oregon LIVE
Committee Members: Phillip Anderson of Mountain People, Fernando Pavon and Sebastian Tramon of Emiliana

Retailer Spotlight: Thrive Market launches Clean Wines

Thrive Market is going Biodynamic big time! This online retailer's offerings of organic and Biodynamic products is expanding from BD pasta, BD pasta sauce, BD fruit spreads, BD juices and BD body care to BD wine! For those of you who don't know Thrive, it's an online club (like Costco if it were online only) with 500,000 paid members who get discounted prices on natural foods.

Its new wine department offers "clean" (referring to vinification) wines which are made with organic, BD or sustainable grapes via low intervention techniques. Master Sommelier (and Thrive consultant) Josh Nadel sources selections from small and medium sized producers in lots of 500 cases. Nadel says their first round of wines, launched this fall, have been enthusiastically received. Their video and communications crew will be visiting Qupé to do a feature about them for members. Nadel says he would be thrilled to explore partnerships with any value-aligned growers or winemakers who can help!

If you are interested in presenting your wines to Thrive, please contact Nolan Green of Thrive. 

Whole Foods Market allows product search for "Biodynamic" grocery items, but not wine
Whole Foods Market has launched a digital product catalog that helps customers shop according to product attribute, including Biodynamic. But it does not allow a search for Biodynamic wine, so we need to follow up on this.

Bonterra Organic Vineyards stars in the new original series It Starts With Wine
Just released on Amazon Prime Video, this episodic series from Wine Enthusiast Media showcases a global selection of acclaimed vintners and celebrated chefs—and offers audiences an inside look at the stories behind the people, locations, cuisines and cultures that surround the wine lifestyle. Episode III features a closer look at organic and Biodynamic farming, and stars Bonterra and ever photogenic Director of Vineyards Joseph Brinkley.

Rudy Marchesi is named "Person of the Year" by the Oregon Wine Press!
Called out as "Oregon's Beloved Biodynamic Mentor" this wonderful tribute article pays homage to Rudy's long career and commitment to Biodynamic viticulture and winemaking. Rudy was recently asked to join the International Biodynamic Viticulture Group- a new committee that intends to integrate more viticulture into the annual Biodynamic Agriculture Conference held in Dornach, Swizerland. We couldn't have a better US representative. For more information on the workshops at this year's conference, please see "Upcoming Events" below. And this recognition couldn't have happened to a nicer fellow: congratulations Rudy!!!

New Hope Network: "9 natural food, beverage and supplement trends for 2019"
New Hope Network is a content, research and event company that is a leading voice in the natural food space. Their editors were asked to identify top trends for 2019- and first on the list was "Regenerative Agriculture," the "venerable buzzword of 2018." From New Hope: "...more stakeholders—manufacturers, suppliers, investors, etc.—are starting to understand how rebuilding soil and biodiversity in our food-producing landscapes is one way to protect our future." And the exemplar standard for regenerative agriculture? Biodynamic of course!

Wine Enthusiast: "Your Guide to Sustainable Wine Certifications: From organic and biodynamic to LEED-certified, a variety of different programs certify eco-friendly wine."
From the article: "Biodynamics is the next step beyond organics. Based on Rudolf Steiner's ideology, biodynamics views the entire estate as a living organism. Naturally occurring cycles like moon phases dictate when to harvest, and there's even a calendar for optimal wine-tasting days... It's one of the few certifications recognized globally, but in the U.S., just a handful of wineries like Hedges Family Estate have earned Demeter's "Certified Biodynamic" seal.

Wine Spectator.com: Is Copper Safe for Wine?
The European Union is considering severely limiting the use of copper sulfate in vineyards.
Favorite quote: "With biodynamics, we help the vine be more resistant against those pathogens," said Drouhin.

Decanter: California winery Qupé sold to Vintage Wine Estates
Qupé has been sold to Vintage Wine Estates and includes the Central Coast producer's brand and wine stocks. Bob Linquist to stay on as consulting winemaker. Good luck Bob!

Chakana Bodega Online: Biodynamic vs. Industrial Wine
A wonderful interview with Chakana founder Juan Pelizzatti
Favorite quote: "I value biodynamics as an approach to agriculture, not as a method to earn more money or to make better wines. Eventually we will make better wines but not for the biodynamic preparations but because our relationship with the vineyard and the land is profoundly different from that of an industrial winery."

The New York Times: In Tuscany, Farms Embrace Nature- and Visitors.
"With enthusiasm for natural wines gaining momentum, Tuscany's growing cluster of biodynamic farms offers tastings and a place to stay" by Laura Rysman
Favorite quote: "Everyone in our circle converted to biodynamic because they could see and taste the difference,"

Liquor.com: "The 7 Biggest Myths of the Natural Wine Movement, Debunked"
Favorite quote: "...just as taking a whole-body approach rather than treating individual symptoms can keep you healthier, a holistic approach in the vineyard can lead to some killer wines."

The Buyer: Sopexa's World Trends: Varieties and Countries Most in Demand
Favorite quote: "The Sopexa report also shows a strong demand for organic wines, which have broken into the top three categories for the first time, with over 35% of respondents (excluding China and Hong Kong) regarding organic and biodynamic wines as the category with the greatest potential for growth over the next two years, ahead of varietal wines. This is a very strong trend in Belgium and also in Japan, where this is accompanied by a keen interest in natural wines."

Agricultural Conference

When: February 5 & 6
Where: the Goetheanum in Dornach, Switzerland
Contact: Rudy Marchesi for more information or Sarah Sommer to register.
Workshops:

• Tuesday 5 February from 4:00 - 6:00 PM - "How to bring animal quality to the vineyard"
  
• Wednesday 6 February from 8:30 - 11:00 AM - "How to develop the vitality of the grapevine"

Rudy explains: "At last year's Agriculture Conference a group of us formed the 'International Biodynamic Viticulture Group' with the idea that this group would serve as an international organ that will foster a deeper understanding of different aspects related to biodynamic viticulture through Anthroposophy and act as a point of communication for the international biodynamic viticulture community.  We met again this past November and have created two pre-conference sessions prior to the upcoming Agriculture Conference in February to which all biodynamic grape growers are invited.

Vinexpo New York launches Organic Wine section

When: March 4 - 5, 2019
Where: Javits Convention Center in New York
Contact: Marjorie Ferris
Website: https://www.vinexponewyork.com/

"Vinexpo New York is the largest business to business trade event focused on wine & spirits held in the United States. Special event at Vinexpo New York: WOW! World of Organic Wines. This is a featured exhibit and tasting area at Vinexpo New York. This area showcases organic and Biodynamic wines and spirits from around the world. Buyers specifically interested in purchasing organic and Biodynamic wines and spirits will be visiting the WOW! Pavilion". 

Pro Wein

When: March 17 - 19, 2019
Where: Düsseldorf, Germany
Contact: Nina Weis
Website: https://www.prowein.com

Demeter Germany rented a large booth space and is offering to pour wines for our Demeter members in their tasting area.  They are also interested in finding out if any Demeter wineries are exhibiting in other booths.  They are offering marketing support to all the Demeter wineries.

Fernando Pavon and Sebastian Tramon of Emiliana would like to organize a strong Demeter presence at ProWein 2020 so if you are interested in participating please reach out to them.

• Biodynamic Messaging Architecture - PPT 2.69MB
  
• Biodynamic Trend Report - PDF 483KB