BIODYNAMIC GRAPE GROWING & WINEMAKING SHORTCOURSE
Date: March 23, 2015
Time: 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
Location: Maysara Winery in McMinnville, Oregon
Address: 15765 Southwest Muddy Valley Rd, McMinnville, OR 97128
Price: General – $60 | Students – $30
Tickets: http://biodynamicshortcourse.brownpapertickets.com/
Sponsored by Demeter USA and Maysara Winery, the full day session offers a comprehensive look at Biodynamic® farming and winemaking from local practitioners and winemakers along with an open forum for questions. The event will be held at Maysara Winery in McMinnville, Oregon from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
Join committed practitioners and educators for a full day seminar and tasting created especially for those in the wine community interested in learning more about Biodynamic farming and winemaking. Practical information on the certification process will be shared, and myths and misinformation will be clarified. Attendees will learn how this high level sustainable farming practice contributes to grape and wine quality.
The Program:
The Short Course begins with a history of Biodynamic agriculture, and proceeds through a series of focused conversations among veteran vintners and viticulture experts on topics of fundamental importance for American wine: What defines a BD farm in concept? What practices make up a BD winegrowing system? What effect does it have on grape vines and wine? Is there any science to back it up? What are the similarities and differences between NOP organic and Demeter Biodynamic? What do BD winemakers have to say? The speaker list includes many Oregon based Biodynamic farmers and vintners.
Throughout the day, there will be an open conversation to include attendee questions and comments.
A delicious lunch will be served mid-way through the program, and at day’s end all guests will be invited to try some of the wines created and shared by the Short Course speakers.
The Logistics:
BD Winegrowing Short Course will take place on Monday March 23 from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm at the beautiful Maysara Winery located at 15765 Muddy Valley Road in McMinnville, OR. Tickets can be purchased through Brown Paper Tickets at: http://biodynamicshortcourse.brownpapertickets.com for $60 which includes lunch. There is a student rate of $30. For more information contact Barbara Gross at 503-649-0027 or bgross@coopermountainwine.com.
About Maysara Winery
In 1997, Moe and Flora Momtazi purchased an abandoned wheat farm in the foothills southwest of McMinnville, Oregon. The plan was to grow pinot noir grapes that reflect the old world way of farming holistically and producing un-manipulated wines. Maysara winery and Momtazi vineyard are dedicated to create an ecosystem that preserves the land as a whole without any external or unnatural additions.
Today, Momtazi estate consists of 532 total acres with 250 acres planted of pinot noir, pinot gris, pinot blanc, muscat and riesling vines. Maysara Winery has been certified Biodynamic since 2007 and Momtazi vineyard since 2005. It is the largest certified Biodynamic vineyard in Oregon, and the second largest in the USA.
About Demeter USA
Demeter USA is a non-profit American chapter of Demeter International, the world’s only certifier of Biodynamic® farms and products. Biodynamic agriculture goes beyond organic, envisioning the farm as a self-contained and self-sustaining organism. In an effort to keep the farm, the farmer, the consumer, and the earth healthy, farmers avoid chemical pesticides and fertilizers, utilize compost and cover crops, and set aside a minimum of 10% of their total acreage for biodiversity. The entire farm, versus a particular crop, must be certified, and farms are inspected annually. In order for a product to bear the Demeter logo it must be made with certified Biodynamic ingredients and meet strict processing standards to ensure the purest possible product.