My Latest in Wine Business Monthly Magazine | April 2024 issue:
Technical Spotlight: Napa’s Quintessa Showcases Biodynamic Practices
by L.M. Archer
For Quintessa in Napa’s Rutherford District, Biodynamics offers not only flexible, scientific guidelines for soil and plant improvement, but also boosts vineyard resilience in the face of climate change. Moreover, it strengthens
community in the winery and beyond.
Roots of Biodynamics
Biodynamics evolved from the teachings of Austrian philosopher and polymath Rudolf Steiner in the 1920s. His holistic methods offered an antidote to chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides “repurposed” from
weapons stockpiles after World War I.
Steiner’s Biodynamic principles advocate for nature-based preparations applied in conjunction with seasonal and celestial cycles. Combined with mindful observation and greater biodiversity, Biodynamics provides a longterm solution for building a successful farm and vineyard.
The story of Quintessa’s own Biodynamic transformation is rooted in relationships, tangled over time.
‘Quinta Essence’
In 1989, Chilean power couple Agustin and Valeria Huneeus purchased 280 acres of undeveloped land at the east end of Napa’s Rutherford District. Groves of native blue oak dotted the unspoiled landscape, bracketed between
the Vaca Mountains and Napa River.
There, they established Quintessa vineyard and winery estate in 1990. The name “Quintessa” plays on two different meanings. According to Quintessa winemaker Rebekah Wineburg, the founders “believed that this place had
a destiny—to be a great wine estate of the world. And they came up with five things.”
Those five attributes inherent in a great wine estate include a vineyard, a hospitality center, a residence (with actual occupants), a winery and a spiritual center. In lieu of a traditional chapel, co-founder and microbiologist/
viticulturist Dr. Valeria Huneeus designed an open-air labyrinth, sited under some of the oldest trees on the property, a place “she felt the strongest about.”
Quintessa’s name is also a nod to the five elements (“Quinta Essence”): earth, air, fire, water and spirit (essence). READ MORE HERE.
I am so honored to share my feature showcasing Quintessa’s Biodynamic practices with you here.