BIODYNAMICS: WINEMAKING FOR THE FUTURE
TOWARD A RENAISSANCE OF TERROIR WINES
"Allons ensemble vers une renaissance des Appellations"
 
QUALITY CHARTER
 
“The taste of wine can only be original and inimitable if it is the full expression of its terroir and climate. Everywhere on earth, the relationship between the four elements – heat, light, water and soil – is different. This unique combination represents the subtlety of a specific site whose characteristics are immediately captured by all growing things, especially vineyards. It is from this understanding that the superior concept of appellation was born, as a guarantee that consumers will find the unique characters of a specific place in the wine they purchase.

For the vines to capture the terroir with their roots, the terroir must be alive. And for the leaves to absorb the climate and its multiple facets (wind, topology, light, heat, etc.), they must be free of synthetic chemicals.

When healthy vineyard practices (organic or preferably biodynamic) have allowed the site to fully express itself, cellar technologies and the flavours they create become unnecessary. True wine keeps its original taste and its ability to age, with complete transparency for the consumers.” Nicolas Joly.
 
A Quality Charter for Us All
 

The system of evaluation outlined below is simply about the vineyard and winemaking practices which permit an Appellation – a wine site – to fully express itself. This approach encourages winegrowers to improve their practices, and informs wine buyers about the effects of such practices on the expression of appellations.

Our purpose is not to establish a rating of winegrowers, but to pull together all those who share a common philosophy of wine, whether they are growers, distributors or consumers. We want to give terroirs their full meaning and free ourselves of the competition that technology and its lack of typicity have amplified, in France and around the world.

All the members of Return to Terroir/Renaissance des Appellations adhere to this strict Charter. The quality of their wines has been approved by the directors of the group.

Level 1 lays out the fundamental elements. All the members of Renaisssance des Terroirs must have implemented them over their entire domaines for a minimum of 3 years. Organic or biodynamic practices must be certified by a recognised organisation.

Level 2 takes this philosophy to a higher level.

Level 3 requires the greatest commitment. Its implementation can be affected by adverse weather conditions and it may not be possible to reach it every year.

 
Level 1: the fundamentals

Natural practices in the vineyards and in the cellar
Care of the soil and its cover to maximize life in the soil; all herbicides are excluded.
Use of organic fertilizers and composts to sustain microbial life in the soil. Chemical fertilizers are banned: they ruin the soils and the metabolism of the vines.
Exclusive use of natural products to fight diseases in accordance to the norms set up for organic viticulture. Synthetic chemicals of all sorts are strictly forbidden.
No genetically engineered vine plants.
Exclusion of all aromatic and genetically modified yeasts.
Exclusion of aromatic additives of all kind (tannin powder, oak chips, etc. are banned).
Certification of organic or biodynamic practices by a recognised organisation.
 
Level 2: the next step
Manual harvesting in one or several pickings.
Respect of natural fermentation process:
- exclusive use of indigenous yeasts
- enzymes, bacteria, and other additives are strictly banned.
Respect of the natural richness of the grapes: cryoextraction, de-alcoholisation, and all methods of must concentration (evaporation, reverse osmosis, etc.) are excluded.
Manual selection of future vine plants in order to respect and increase the bio-diversity of the vineyard. This is a return to true field selection without clones.
 
Level 3: when conditions are right
No modification to the natural balance of the must and wine: no acidification or de-acidification and no chaptalization in any form.
No fining.
No sterile filtration (2 micros minimum).
 
The directors of the group include:

Olivier Humbrecht
David Léclapart
Anne-Claude Leflaive
Pierre Morey
Philippe du Roy de Blicquy
Raimond de Villeneuve
Nicolas Joly (founder)
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