Bonterra and Biodynamics Take Center Stage in New Amazon Prime Series

Press Release

Wine Enthusiast Media is pleased to announce the launch of It Starts With Wine, an original series premiering on Amazon Prime Video January 4th, 2019.

The episodic series travels the globe and follows the world's best winemakers, growers, producers and personalities, along with prominent chefs and celebrities, to offer viewers an inside look at the people, locations, cuisines and cultures that surround the wine lifestyle and the world's finest wines and spirits.

The first episode in the groundbreaking cinematic series features famed chef and restaurateur Francis Mallmann, with acclaimed "flying winemaker" Alberto Antonini, set against the beautiful backdrop of Uruguay and one of the country's premier wineries, Bodega Garzon.

"We felt that the best way to convey these stories was in episodic fashion," says Jay Spaleta, Executive Producer and Wine Enthusiast SVP. "Wine Enthusiast has long been an innovator in wine information, reviews and content, this is the next bold step in that content leadership."
"It Starts With Wine is a docuseries that tells a personal story and shares deep insights in a way that is very approachable, engaging and revealing," continues Spaleta.

Wine Enthusiast Media will be simultaneously releasing episodes I, II and III for viewers binge-watching pleasure. The series will be available on Amazon Prime Video in North America and Vimeo's On Demand premium video service globally.

Episode II of It Starts With Wine follows doctor / vintner Laura Catena and musician / chef Deborah De Corral on a visit to Bodega Catena Zapata, the renowned Argentine Winery. Founded in 1902, Catena is known for bringing traditional European winemaking methods to South America.

Joseph Brinkley, vineyard manager for Bonterra, stars in new Amazon Prime wine program

Episode III travels to California to look at biodynamic viticulture with Joseph Brinkley, vineyard director at Bonterra Organic Vineyards and explores the simplicity of elemental food with chef Garrett Sathre.

About Wine Enthusiast:

Wine Enthusiast Media creates innovative long and short-format content in the wine, spirits, travel and lifestyle categories. Wine Enthusiast Media is the production division of Wine Enthusiast Companies founded in 1979, and publisher of Wine Enthusiast magazine.

For more info visit: https://itstartswithwine.com

For media inquiries, image, footage and interview requests:
John Van Dekker
914-610-6074
jvandekker@enormouscreative.com

SOURCE Wine Enthusiast Media

Johan Vineyards' Change of Address: New Van Duzer Corridor AVA Approved

For years, wineries west of the Eola Amity Hills AVA have known that the Van Duzer Corridor was a definitive climatic element of their sites. Now their uniqueness has been recognized by the TTB, which last week deemed the region the Van Duzer Corridor AVA.

It is the 19th AVA in Oregon and covers nearly 60,000 acres although only 1,000 acres are planted in grapevines. It is the seventh subappellation of the broader Willamette Valley AVA. Its eastern neighbor, the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, became an appellation in 2006.

In defining the geographic and viticultural characteristics of the new AVA, the TTB wrote that the region had, "persistently high wind speeds and lower growing degree day accumulations. The grapes grown in the proposed AVA have different physical characteristics, such as thicker grape skins, and maturation rates than the same varietals grown in other parts of the Willamette Valley AVA."

Source: Johan Vineyards

"We're thrilled to have our area recognized as a viticulturally distinct growing region here within the Willamette Valley," the winery wrote on its Facebook page.

Johan Vineyards in Rickreall farms 63 acres of organic and Biodynamic vineyards, producing 3,600 cases of certified wines (out of 4,000 total cases). It was certified in 2010.

The winery is known for its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay as well as for branching out into varietals that are innovative planting in the region - Blaufrankisch, Melon de Bourgogne, and Gruner Veltliner. It also makes Pet Nats. The winery also sells grapes to local wineries, including natural wine makers, a popular movement in nearby Portland.

In Bordeaux, Duroux Stays the Course at Palmer Through Biodynamic Transition

According to Decanter, low yields at Palmer this year have hit the vineyard and dampened spirits during the illustrious chateau's early days of practicing Biodynamic viticulture.

But the direction is still firm; Biodynamic practices continue to yield a higher quality vintage.

In recent years, Palmer has begun to use more precision viticulture techniques on the 135 acre estate in Margaux and had integrated animals - cows and sheep - into vineyard management to generate more onsite inputs.

(The estate was Demeter certified in 2017, making it the second in Bordeaux to be certified Biodynamic. Chateau Pontet-Canet, with 300 acres of vines, was the first to be Demeter certified in 2014, after being certified by Biodyvin in 2010.)

Chateau Palmer is also focusing on improving its second wine, Alter Ego. It is also experimenting with no added sulfite wines.

By going Biodynamic,  Chateau Pontet-Canet in Pauillac found that grape quality improved significantly and blocks that formerly produced grapes for its second wine are now blended into its first wine - a profitable economic result.

Tonnellerie Sylvain Launches its New Barrel Sylvain Biodyamie

Ernst Zuercher

Editor's Note: The body of research outlining the influence of the moon on trees was conducted by Swiss scientist Ernest Zuercher.

Sylvain Press Release 

To support their clients and reinforce their own biodynamic approach to winemaking, the teams at Tonnellerie Sylvain have been working for the past few years to develop a new barrel which applies the principles of biodynamics to the entire barrel production process.

All the major step of the production process from tree to Sylvain Biodynamie barrel assembling (splitting, jointing, assembling, toasting...), are completed according to Tonnellerie Sylvain’s technical specifications following a precise schedule according to the lunar calendar, either a flower or fruit day. These two days are chosen for a reason: in the world of biodynamic winemaking, they are widely recognised as enhancing the aromatic expression.

The teams at Tonnellerie Sylvain have thought this barrel in its globality. During the whole fabrication process, every aspect of the natural environment is considered to preserve the natural balance of the living environment. Especially during the maturation of the staves, that are arranged in a storage area dedicated to biodynamic wood.

Each Sylvain Biodynamie barrel is assembled by master coopers who are well-versed and trained in the principles of biodynamics. All the teams at Tonnellerie Sylvain have been mobilized around this project to offer the most “biodynamic” barrel possible.

KEY FEATURES OF THE PROJECT:
- The most complete biodynamic barrel making process,
- Respect of the lunar and planetary rhythms during the whole process (from tree to barrel),
- Respect of the balance of nature,
- Master coopers well-versed and trained in biodynamics

Tonnellerie Sylvain in brief:
• Creation in 1957
• Family company for 3 generations
• 47 employees
• 33000 barrels per year
• 30% of the barrels sold in France and 70% abroad

The Gérard Bertrand Group buys Domaine de Ceyleran, Former Home of Toulouse Latrec; Plans to Make it an Organic and Biodynamic Showcase

In Occitania, the regional council has approved the sale of Domaine de Celeyran near Narbonne to the Gerard Bertrand Group. The aging chateau was the former home of the French artist Toulouse Lautrec.

The property has 187 acres of vineyards, which the regional council has allowed growers to use through 2019.

The Gerard Bertrand Group is said to have paid $2.7 million for a 75 year lease for the historic landmark estate. The group says it will invest $13.5 million in restoring the chateau and additional funds to improve the vineyards. The estate was classified as a historic building in 1952. 

Carole Delga, regional council head, explained that the group will revitalize the landmark as, 

“.... a unique venue focusing on an innovative project, the desire to breathe new life into the estate...This will pave the way for the implementation of an unprecedented project revolving around French organic and biodynamic farming." 

The project includes major investments on the farming side of the chateau, but also on the chateau itself, which will be completely refurbished, entailing a total investment of €12 million by the Gérard Bertrand Group.  



This follows on the heels of Bertrand's recent purchase of Mas du Soleilla, which has 54 acres of certified organic vineyards next to Bertrand's Chateau l'Hospitalet in La Clape. This adds to Bertrand's 197 acre estate vineyard on the property which contains a hotel and a nature preserve for hiking.

Peter Wildbolz and Christa Derungs, both from Switzerland, established Mas du Soleilla in 2002; the vines are certified organic.

Bertrand is one of the biggest organic producers in France and is in transition to becoming the largest Biodynamic vineyard owner in the world, with more than 1,200 acres certified or in transition to certification.

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