BIODYNAMIC VITICULTURE

The way to biodynamic viticulture

Niki Moser has always been interested in environmental protection and organic viticulture. However, the first book he had read on the subject - “Hinweise aus der Konstellationsforschung für Obst- und Weinbau“, by Maria Thun – was quickly put aside. His scepticism towards the methods of moon-oriented farming was still too high. His attitude changed dramatically, however, in the year 2000, when he travelled with friends to Alsace. There he met Pierre Frick (Domaine Pierre Frick) and Marc Kreydenweiss (Domaine Marc Kreydenweiss), whose vineyards were the most beautiful and healthiest in the region – despite the extreme peronospera that had occurred that year. When he returned from his journey, he passionately began to study the topic of biodynamics.
Niki Moser decided to work in a biodynamic way in a vineyard of 2.5 ha (7 acres) in Wolfsgraben. But in his second and third year, he had to learn the hard way. A massive infection with oidium caused a crop failure of around 30 %. Nevertheless, he continued his project and, in 2001, converted vineyards in Apetlon (parts of the Hedwighof and Hollabern vineyards). At the beginning, he regularly telephoned Marc Kreydenweiss for advice, and was supported as much as possible. Meanwhile, Michael Andert, the vineyard manager in Apetlon, had also become firmly convinced about biodynamic viticulture, and the vineyards in both regions were gradually converted to biodynamic cultivation.
The two challenging vintages of 2004 and 2005 can in some respect be regarded as a touchstone, because heavy rainfalls at the end of the vegetation period and, above all, during the harvest, were the nightmare of every winemaker. But the biodynamically-run vineyards were already resistant and robust enough to remain healthy all by themselves, without any chemical protection against fungus infections. This experience ultimately convinced Niki Moser to convert the entire estate into a biodynamic one, which he did in 2005.

Facts & Figures:

• The start of the biodynamic agricultural movement finds it roots in the last works of the Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925). Working in a biodynamic way basically means to understand the connections of life in nature and to support or reproduce them.
• Demeter (the name originates from the ancient Greek goddess of fertility) is the oldest association of organic farmers, and the only one which is organized on a global level. Only strictly controlled and contractually bound partners are permitted to use the brand “Demeter” on their products.
• In total, there are 3.500 Demeter farms in more than 30 countries, with 110 of them in Austria. They offer 3.500 different products, from fruit and vegetables to antipasti, coffee, wine, cheese, rice, baby food and many more. There are also natural cosmetic and body care products of highest quality, as well as textile and fashion products from wool and cotton.
• Anual inspection is precondition for a continuous certification.
• Demeter farmers are not only food producers. Their aim is also to protect nature, to cure, to actively form and develop it to a high cultured landscape.
• By taking good care of soil fertility, cultigens and seeds under the natural conditions of a site, an entire wine estate can be turned into one living organism in which causes and consequences form a healthy cycle.
• Absolutely forbidden are pesticides, herbicides, artificial fertilizers and synthetic spray agents.
• It is of essential importance to reliably and regularly use biodynamic preparations and to consider the cosmic rhythms in plant cultivation.
Detailed information can be found at www.demeter.net.

Biodynamic Working at the Sepp Moser estate

There is no universal recipe that can be used for every farm. The local conditions such as the soil, the climate, the plants etc. are to be considered carefully every moment and are different each year. In the vineyards of Nikolaus Moser, for example, fennel oil extracts, various teas made from regional herbs like stinging nettle, horsetail, dandelion, yarrow, sage, etc., are applied as prevention and remedy against fungi. Apart from the basic biodynamic preparations like horn manure and horn silica, a compost of manure from steppe cattle of the Neusiedlersee-region is made and inoculated with special compost preparations. In the Kremstal area, the estate uses horse dung from the family’s stable. Sulphur and copper are also used. A main focus lies on the work with the soils. It is very important that the soil stays loose and full-of-life. For that reason Niki prefers working with a quad – which is much lighter than a tractor. Niki Moser is convinced that in the long run, these measures will have a very positive influence on the ecological balance in and around the vineyards. Studies in the Loire valley have shown that diseases and pest infestations of the vines have been significantly reduced due to the sustainable expansion of biodiversity.

Sustainability and conservation

Niki Moser is devoted to sustainability and, therefore, does not only rely on biodynamic farming under Demeter contract. He also feels obliged to preserve the countryside.
In Rohrendorf, a few solitary trees of original varieties are planted every year. In autumn 2005, the first ones (maple, oak, lime and walnut) were planted amidst the vineyards. On one hand, these trees embellish the landscape; on the other - and this is much more important - they provide birds and other creatures with room for breeding and living. In addition, Niki Moser plans to propagate site-specific plants - of which there exist some very rare ones - on the dry grasslands between the terraces in Rohrendorf.

The vineyards in Apetlon are situated in the Lake Neusiedl National Park, a place with extremely rich flora and fauna. Already for several years, Niki Moser has been in close contact with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in the region. Finally, at the beginning of 2006, a co-operation was established between the Sepp Moser estate, the WWF and the responsible representatives of the Lake Neusiedl National Park.

This cooperation includes the following projects:

• Every year, numerous school classes visit the WWF’s base in Apetlon to study the special features of the region’s flora and fauna. In the future, the children will also see the vineyards in order to learn about the ecosystem, the particularities of cultivation and about biodynamic agriculture. And they will also help to collect plants (stinging nettle, dandelion, sage, etc.) for the preparations. This way, they get an idea of how it is possible to grow vines in an environmentally-friendly way in such a sensitive zone.

• In late summer, when most of the work in the vineyards is done, the employees of the estate will remove trees and shrubs (Russian olives, wild roses, etc.) from the steppes around the Lange Lacke lake, in order to recreate the original conditions and prevent an excessive growth of shrubs. As a compensation for this, the National Park provides the estate with cuttings from these ecologically valuable lands. This organic material is full of rare wild herbs, some of which are highly aromatic. This is to be turned into special compost – made exclusively from plants - for the vineyards.

• Also in Apetlon, the space between the vine rows is revegetated more and more with autochthonous plants.