Some winemakers believe that the moon phases affect the harvest and the quality of the wine. The exact term to describe this is Biodynamics and it was created by Rudolf Steiner in 1924. Basically, he believed that the earth is a living thing and is very important the interrelation between the earth, plants, animals, minerals and humans with the rythms and movements of the cosmos. It is a global point of view: everything influence everything. Maria Thun, who was one of his disciples, developed a calendar, which is published every year, in which she has applied Steiner's theories. Farmers follow this calendar and work according which date is better for each labor. All these theories are referred to agriculture in general, not in the process of wine making. In Steiner book "Agriculture" he mentiones wine making a couple of times as part of another agricultural technique. However, in the world of wine, people have intrepret these theories in order to know when is the perfect time for decanting the wine. Steiner was not only focused in agriculture, he also applied his theories to other disciplines such as education, medicin, architecture or art. In Burgundy, one of the most destroyed areas due to chemicals and the degenariton of soils, wine makers have started to develop biodynamic techniques. A soil scientific, Claude Bourguinon, is expanding all these theories with a great success. Some of the most esoteric method is the one called "biodynamic preparations" or "preparations 500". A cow horn full with manure is buried during the whole summer period. After this time, the horn is digged up and dissolved with water. This compound is sprayed to the soil so it gets a great amount of microorganisms. They called it "earth medicine". There are other preparations with herbs and plants, ashes or quartz. Biodynamics in Spain has not extended that much, only Telmo Rodriguez was experimenting in Remelluri. Nonetheless, some techniques are applied such as: pruning during the crescent moon (for young vineyards) or during the waning of the moon (for old vineyards). It is also traditional, to decant in full moon, since the atmospheric pressure is higher so there is less turbulences in the vine. In Roda, some wineries are trying ecological and biological techniques, similar to biodynamics. |