Demeter biodynamic wine from the Gérard Bertrand estates

Demeter-certified biodynamic cultivation for a terroir wine closer to nature

vin biodynamique demeter

If organic farming and its “AB” label are known to everyone today, biodynamic wine and its “Demeter” label are much less so. And yet, biodynamics is a growing method that pushes the concept of “all natural” even further than organic.

This mode of cultivation seeks symbiosis with nature. Man aims to strengthen organic life and exchanges between the soil and the cultivated plant, with the primary consequence of no longer needing to use chemicals to protect it (pesticides) or nourish it (fertilizer).

With biodynamics, the winemaker takes care of the vine, strengthens it, and harvests its fruits, without exhausting it

For Gérard Bertrand, a fervent defender of the environment, biodynamics is a true philosophy of life. It was in 2002, in the Domaine de Cigalus, that he converted his first vineyard to Biodynamics. Convinced of the benefits of this method of cultivation close to nature, he now applies the principles of biodynamics to all the vines of his estates in Languedoc-Roussillon, which today represents 950 hectares spread over the entire Occitanie region.

vin biodynamique

What is a biodynamic wine?

A biodynamic wine is a wine made according to the principles of biodynamic agriculture.

Biodynamics, or biodynamic agriculture, is a method of cultivation aimed at regenerating and fortifying the soil and plants, through the use of natural preparations such as horn dung or organic compost. Biodynamics also takes into account the influence of the planets, and in particular the lunar calendar.

Founded in 1924 by Rudolf Steiner, the main mission of biodynamics is to rebalance the cultivated plant.

In a biodynamic cultivation method, all chemical and synthetic products are strictly prohibited. Only organic fertilizers are used.

In addition, unlike traditional wines and organic wines, a biodynamic wine receives very few oenological inputs during the vinification phase.

Discover the entire range and collection of biodynamic wines from Gérard Bertrand.

Biodynamic wines, ambassadors of terroir wines

Gérard Bertrand, as an unconditional lover of the terroirs of the south of France, and in particular those of Languedoc-Roussillon, designs in each of his estates, high quality biodynamic wines, with a strong identity. This is particularly the case within the Domaine de l'Hospitalet, producing Château l'Hospitalet La Clape Grand Vin Rouge, wine voted best red wine in the world by IWC in 2019.

Indeed, because of its method of cultivation that goes in the direction of the plant, and not in the direction of productivity, biodynamics allows the grapes to draw their resources directly from the terroir and the different layers of the soil.

The grapes are no longer under infusion of chemical fertilizers allowing them to develop artificially. Thanks to the rich organic life of the soil, the vine feeds on the living humus of its terroir.

With its benefits, the grape develops optimally, it concentrates in sugar, trace elements and vitamins. The wine made from this grape expresses perfectly where it comes from, its terroir, its history.

The cultivation of vines in biodynamic agriculture thus makes it possible to produce powerful and deep wines, fruitier and more balanced than traditional wines.

A vine cultivated in biodynamics allows the wine to express the full potential of its terroir, its qualities and its specific characteristics

The Demeter label

Today, while many winegrowers pride themselves on practicing biodynamic cultivation of their vines, only obtaining the Demeter label allows them to certify compliance with strict and totally transparent specifications. .

Present in 53 countries, the Demeter label takes up the specifications of the Organic label by adding more stringent measures, particularly in terms of inputs, in order to respect the principles of biodynamics.

Of course, in biodynamics, chemical pesticides and fertilizers are strictly prohibited.

With an even more ecological vision, the demeter biodynamic wines de facto respect the specifications of organic farming. They therefore also have the “AB” organic label.

However, if today the organic label makes it possible to assure the consumer of being in the presence of a wine that has not used chemical products (fertilizers, pesticides), many so-called “industrial” practices are still allowed when designing an organic wine and do not allow the wine to express its full potential.

Biodynamic agriculture, through the Demeter label, thus represents a higher level of requirement in terms of respect for a more natural and more artisanal.

This is particularly the case for Clos d'Ora (organic and demeter red wine), and Clos du Temple (organic rosé wine and demeter), two areas cultivated in biodynamics producing an exceptional wine and using animal traction (a mule) to work the soil.

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The qualities of a biodynamic wine

qualités d’un vin biodynamique

From vines grown using natural methods, without synthetic products, biodynamic wines offer a rich and delicate taste palette.

While a traditional wine has only two or three predominant aromas, a biodynamic wine is much more complex, and expresses a multitude of flavors and aromas.

The wine is delicate on the nose, silky on the palate, with a prominent place left to the fruit.

More mineral and more balanced, the biodynamic wine represents the culmination of the work of the vine cultivated with love and patience.

With a biodynamic Demeter wine, digestibility is also significantly improved, thanks in particular to its very low sulphite content. The sulphite content of a biodynamic wine is in fact at least 30% lower than that of an organic wine.

People with digestion difficulties will thus find a wine that is more easily assimilated by the body

Discover other explanations on the different types of wine:

Rosé wine
Languedoc organic wine

Organic rosé wine, the best rosé wine and the Languedoc rosé wine

Orange Wine

And to go further:

Making rosé wine: how is it made?
Gérard Bertrand, story of a family passion for the vine

The Châteaux and Estates of Gérard Bertrand

The online boutique of Gérard Bertrand wines

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