BioFach 2008: Organic wine shows dynamic trends

Mood barometer for organic wine points to “super sunny”

Increasing number of winegrowers support bio-dynamic

The mood barometer in the organic wine industry has never been so good.
Importers and traders specializing in organic wines enjoyed two-figure growth rates again in 2006. But not only the sales figures are rising; in contrast to conventional wines, the suppliers’ turnover figures are also right.
BioFach 2008, the World Organic Trade Fair, is also the biggest organic wine exhibition in the world. Wine exhibitors from all over the world present their top organic wines to interested professionals in the new wine hall 4A from 21-24 February 2008.
A stylish ambience, manned tasting area and top organic enjoyment on the tasting course and in the hall restaurant!
A total of approx. 2,600 exhibitors and some 45,000 trade visitors are expected at the industry’s annual get-together at BioFach and the parallel Vivaness, Trade Fair for Natural Personal Care and Wellness, in the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg in 2008.

Bio-dynamic gaining importance
An increasing number of winegrowers in the international wine market are backing organic wines. Organic agriculture has two cultivation methods: the biological-organic and biological-dynamic management methods.
Biological-dynamic is the production method named after the anthroposophical doctrines of Rudolf Steiner. This method not only takes material substances and the physical forces of nature into account, but also aspects such as moon phases. In bio-dynamic winegrowing, for example, the astrological calendar is also consulted when the wine is moved from one vat to another.

Spain: Growing number of conventional producers changing to organic
Growth and good sales figures are increasingly causing large, well-known conventional producers on the Iberian Peninsular to add organic wines to their range. These are mainly cooperatives in the La Mancha, Rioja, Penedès and Levante regions, which are converting larger and larger areas. They ensure a constantly growing range of organic wines. The majority of these wines are exported as VAT wine and sold in the starter wine segment. Especially private organic winegrowers point out the rich potential for superior qualities. For some years now, growing areas have been constantly extended to meet the increasing demand for wines in the price range above 10 euros.

Austria: Alpine republic in the grip of a bio-dynamic wave
Whereas bio-dynamic winegrowing currently plays an absolute outsider role in Spain with its over 15,000 ha of organic vines, a different trend can be determined in other well-known winegrowing nations. In Austria, for example, where there has been a real bio-dynamic wave since 2005. “The conversion has no marketing reasons, as we don’t need any marketing help. It is a matter of sustainability and even better quality,” says Peter Veyder-Malberg from Schlossweingut Graf Hardegg. He belongs to a group of renowned Austrian winegrowers, who have jointly converted to bio-dynamic viticulture.

Germany: Dynamic development in organic viticulture
In Germany, where about 2,000 ha of vines are currently grown organically, there is movement in organic viticulture. One driving force here is the Verein Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter (VDP). 15 association winegrowers farm over 12 % of the German organic vine area. “Another five of our members are in the process of converting. In terms of commitment to organic we are experiencing a very great dynamic.
This is no longer a flash in the pan, but a very widespread trend,” says VDP President Steffen Christmann. Like the majority of his association colleagues, he is also moving towards bio-dynamic cultivation.

France: Alsace is pioneer in bio-dynamic viticulture
The trend to organic wine is also unmistakable in France. Many areas are converting, especially the large cooperatives in the south, particularly in Languedoc and the Rhône/Provence region. The share of certified organic vineyards is nevertheless less than a third for most of the winegrowing cooperatives. There is still plenty of room for expansion. This is especially true of the Languedoc, which is well on the way to casting off its reputation as a mass wine region. The regions of Bordeaux and Alsace are strong organic winegrowing regions. A definite trend to bio-dynamic cultivation is noticeable particularly in Alsace, driven mainly by private winegrowers. France currently has some 15,000 ha of organic vineyards.

Italy: Front-runner in the organic wine market
Italy has taken the lead in European organic winegrowing in the past decade. The area of certified organic vineyards rose from some 3,700 ha in 1994 to 44,000 ha in 2001. It has distinctly shrunk since then, but with over 30,000 ha Italy is still the absolute leader in organic winegrowing.
The reduction of the area had mainly two reasons: In the south of Italy, where most of the organic grapes are grown, the large wine cellars preferred to revert to low-cost grapes for basic wines. The customers for the more expensive organic wines were lacking in the south and the grants for organic growing were also appreciably reduced. The situation in the well-known regions in the north of the country, especially in Tuscany and Veneto, looks much more encouraging. Mainly private organic winegrowers are located there, who can sell the largest part of their wines abroad.
The organic industry in Italy receives much impetus through Slow Food President Carlo Petrini. He sees organic and above all bio-dynamic farming as the future for Italian winegrowers and farmers, and thus also promotes the trend to bio-dynamic in his country.

Future trend to organic wine
Consumers are increasingly demanding organic wine – and worldwide. According to industry experts, organic wine is also gaining more and more fans among sommeliers and customers in countries like the USA and organic wines from the USA are finding a growing number of supporters in Europe. In the difficult year 2006, for example, the largest US organic winegrower Bonterra Vineyards, which uses both organic and bio-dynamic methods, suffered no drop in turnover in Europe and developed positively particularly in Germany.

Experts say it is only a matter of time before the European winegrowing cooperatives devote more attention to this issue than up to now. The number of conventional cooperatives that market organic wines and thus pursue a two-fold strategy is already rising. This is also advisable in view of the climate change, which is confirmed by the Rhinehessen winegrower and organic pioneer Günter Wittmann: “Particularly the use of bio-dynamic means makes the grapes look better and they ripen earlier.”

When the grapes are ideally ripe for processing, they have a lower degree of alcohol than corresponding grape qualities from conventional cultivation, which must hang on the vine longer. According to industry experts, the alcohol content of wines is constantly increasing as a result of the climate change and correspondingly difficult weather conditions, which does not please wine gourmets and should be avoided. The arguments that support organic winegrowing are varied. Visitors at BioFach 2008 can experience and enjoy the variety of organic wines from all over the world.