Description

Book Synopsis

Wine growers are converting to biodynamic viniculture in record numbers. Some of the world’s best wines are now biodynamic.

At its heart, biodynamic viniculture is about understanding the nature of vines and their relationship to the environment. This beautifully illustrated and informative book will be of interest to current biodynamic wine growers and those considering converting to biodynamic methods.

It includes:
-- an introduction to the theory of biodynamic viniculture and the Goethean method of observation in relation to vines;
-- practical articles on all aspects of wine growing, including biodiversity, pruning, treating and preventing disease;
-- case studies of biodynamic vineyards from around the world.

Biodynamic wine expert Jean-Michel Florin has gathered contributions from biodynamic viniculturists to create a beautiful, full-colour book which is both a celebration of sustainable wine growing and an invaluable guide to the future of wine cultivation.



Table of Contents

Introduction

Part 1 - A Goethean Approach

1. The Archetypal Plant
Jean-Michel Florin
Four steps of plant observation
Plant growth: point, line and plane
The three types of metamorphosis
The root
The creation of substance
Fruit formation
Woody plants

2. The Vine
Jean-Michel Florin
A woody climber
The grape louse plague
The vine’s gesture
Cultivation and habitat
A paradigm change: from controlling to accompanying the vine

Part 2 - A New Impulse

3. Pathogenesis: The Grape Louse Plague
Georg Meissner

4. Salutogenesis: Restoring the Vine to Health
Georg Meissner

Part 3 - A Viticulture that Respects the Vine’s True Nature

5. The Agricultural Organism
Jean-Michel Florin

6. From Grapevine Monoculture to a Diverse Vineyard
Werner Michlits

7. Undersowing Vines in Organic Viticulture
Matthias Wolff

8. Biodynamic Vineyards at Work
The Zusslin Estate, Alsace, France
Jean-Michel Florin
Château d’Esther, St Loubès, Bordeaux, France
Jean-Michel Florin
Eco Terreno, Sonoma County, California, USA
Robert Izzo and Daphne Amory
Littorai Wines, Sonoma County, California, USA
Ted Lemon
Seresin Estate, Marlborough, New Zealand
Colin Ross

Part 4 - How to Make the Vine Stronger

9.Manure
Jean-Michel Florin
The biodynamic preparations

10.Esca: a Grapevine Trunk Disease
Florian Bassini

11.Fungal Diseases
Jean-Michel Florin
Field horsetail (Equisetum arvense)
Willow
The stinging nettle (Urtica dioica)

12. The Nature of Sulfur
Marc Follmer

13. The Nature of Copper
Marc Follmer

14. Pruning to Reflect the Vine’s Nature
Hans-Christian Zehnter

15. Gentle Pruning to Prevent Wood Disease
François Dal

16. The Vine Nursery: Training the Breeder’s Eye
Jean-Michel Florin

17. Regenerative Grafting
François Dal

18.Growing Points
Jean-Michel Florin

Part 5 - The Future of the Vine

19. Wine Gold
Hans-Christian Zehnter

20. Developments in Apple Breeding: a Possibility for the Vine
Nikolaus Bolliger

21.The Future of Wine: Working with a Creative Tension
Jean-Michel Florin

Acknowledgements
Picture Credits
Contributors
Biodynamic Associations
Notes
Further Reading
Index

Biodynamic Wine Growing: Understanding the Vine

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    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Fri 19 Jun 2026.

    A Paperback / softback by Jean-Michel Florin, Bernard Jarman

    1 in stock

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      View other formats and editions of Biodynamic Wine Growing: Understanding the Vine by Jean-Michel Florin

      Publisher: Floris Books
      Publication Date: 15/04/2021
      ISBN13: 9781782506690, 978-1782506690
      ISBN10: 1782506691

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      Wine growers are converting to biodynamic viniculture in record numbers. Some of the world’s best wines are now biodynamic.

      At its heart, biodynamic viniculture is about understanding the nature of vines and their relationship to the environment. This beautifully illustrated and informative book will be of interest to current biodynamic wine growers and those considering converting to biodynamic methods.

      It includes:
      -- an introduction to the theory of biodynamic viniculture and the Goethean method of observation in relation to vines;
      -- practical articles on all aspects of wine growing, including biodiversity, pruning, treating and preventing disease;
      -- case studies of biodynamic vineyards from around the world.

      Biodynamic wine expert Jean-Michel Florin has gathered contributions from biodynamic viniculturists to create a beautiful, full-colour book which is both a celebration of sustainable wine growing and an invaluable guide to the future of wine cultivation.



      Table of Contents

      Introduction

      Part 1 - A Goethean Approach

      1. The Archetypal Plant
      Jean-Michel Florin
      Four steps of plant observation
      Plant growth: point, line and plane
      The three types of metamorphosis
      The root
      The creation of substance
      Fruit formation
      Woody plants

      2. The Vine
      Jean-Michel Florin
      A woody climber
      The grape louse plague
      The vine’s gesture
      Cultivation and habitat
      A paradigm change: from controlling to accompanying the vine

      Part 2 - A New Impulse

      3. Pathogenesis: The Grape Louse Plague
      Georg Meissner

      4. Salutogenesis: Restoring the Vine to Health
      Georg Meissner

      Part 3 - A Viticulture that Respects the Vine’s True Nature

      5. The Agricultural Organism
      Jean-Michel Florin

      6. From Grapevine Monoculture to a Diverse Vineyard
      Werner Michlits

      7. Undersowing Vines in Organic Viticulture
      Matthias Wolff

      8. Biodynamic Vineyards at Work
      The Zusslin Estate, Alsace, France
      Jean-Michel Florin
      Château d’Esther, St Loubès, Bordeaux, France
      Jean-Michel Florin
      Eco Terreno, Sonoma County, California, USA
      Robert Izzo and Daphne Amory
      Littorai Wines, Sonoma County, California, USA
      Ted Lemon
      Seresin Estate, Marlborough, New Zealand
      Colin Ross

      Part 4 - How to Make the Vine Stronger

      9.Manure
      Jean-Michel Florin
      The biodynamic preparations

      10.Esca: a Grapevine Trunk Disease
      Florian Bassini

      11.Fungal Diseases
      Jean-Michel Florin
      Field horsetail (Equisetum arvense)
      Willow
      The stinging nettle (Urtica dioica)

      12. The Nature of Sulfur
      Marc Follmer

      13. The Nature of Copper
      Marc Follmer

      14. Pruning to Reflect the Vine’s Nature
      Hans-Christian Zehnter

      15. Gentle Pruning to Prevent Wood Disease
      François Dal

      16. The Vine Nursery: Training the Breeder’s Eye
      Jean-Michel Florin

      17. Regenerative Grafting
      François Dal

      18.Growing Points
      Jean-Michel Florin

      Part 5 - The Future of the Vine

      19. Wine Gold
      Hans-Christian Zehnter

      20. Developments in Apple Breeding: a Possibility for the Vine
      Nikolaus Bolliger

      21.The Future of Wine: Working with a Creative Tension
      Jean-Michel Florin

      Acknowledgements
      Picture Credits
      Contributors
      Biodynamic Associations
      Notes
      Further Reading
      Index

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