Katherine Cole

An interesting look at a decidedly strange way to grow grapes and make wine. I must say I am one of the biodynamic naysayers, and I like how the author gives plenty of space to refuting many of the far out claims that biodynamic adherents make. The chapter that really killed me was the science or science fiction chapter. I hate it when people who have no formal education in physics talk about quantum physics and use it to explain things that are clearly not quantum mechanics, not related to quantum mechanics, and totally wrong. I couldn't stop laughing reading about some of the far out things people say in the name of so called physics. It also simultaneously annoyed and entertained me, as a person getting a phd in optics, reading a quote about how quartz absorbs light, just like silicon. HA!

Anyway, my science rant aside, this book does a good job explaining what biodynamics is, and profiles a lot of biodynamic wine producers, while also giving room to the claims that biodynamics isn't much different from organic, and that the benefits may be due in large part to the extra effort given to growing the grapes, rather than burying cow horns filled with cow shit.… (mer)