A Day in the Vineyard: Biodynamic Day at Quartz Reef

There’s something pretty special about getting a group of people who care deeply about the land together in a vineyard.

Today, Rudi hosted our local Biodynamic Day here at Quartz Reef in Bendigo, bringing together growers, winemakers and friends from around Central Otago to share knowledge, ideas and a little time out in the vines.

We started the morning outside in the sunshine with Su, who guided us through a grounding and breathing exercise. A pretty good way to start a day in the vineyard, with the mountains around us and the vines just beginning to wake up for spring.

From there, we got into the more serious biodynamic stuff, with @jamesmillton leading the conversation. We talked about biodynamic preparations, soil, the rhythms of the vineyard and, of course, Prep 500.

There was plenty of hands-on discussion too, with everyone getting the chance to look through the biodynamic horns and share how they work with their own vineyards.

What we love about days like this is that there is always something new to learn. Biodynamics is not about following a simple recipe. It’s about observation, patience and understanding the relationship between the soil, plants, animals and the wider environment.

At Quartz Reef, we’ve been farming organically and biodynamically for many years, and it’s a big part of how we approach our vineyards in Bendigo. Being able to share that knowledge with other growers and hear what is happening in vineyards across Central Otago makes these days even more valuable.

There was a lot of knowledge, plenty of questions and a shared passion for working with nature rather than against it.

And honestly, standing in the vineyard in the spring sunshine, surrounded by people who care about the same things, is a pretty good way to spend a day.

Days like this are special.