Our Introduction to Biodynamic Viticulture course is ideal if you have a basic knowledge of viticulture and would like to develop a biodynamic approach. You might be planning a new vineyard, wanting to convert your present plot, or selling or marketing biodynamic wine. If so, this is the course for you!

Sessions are online with a series of seminars, an extensive resource library for additional personal study, and video interviews with experts from across the world of biodynamic viticulture.

What you'll learn

What biodynamic viticulture is all about – key recent trends and ongoing growth

We start by looking at the growth of biodynamic vineyards around the world, including  trends in the number of certified vineyards and the historical context of growing vines biodynamically. Many people want to know the difference between biodynamic and organic viticulture, and we cover that, as well as the emergence of the phrase 'natural wine'.

Why winegrowers convert to biodynamic

Why do people grow wine biodynamically?  Every grower has their own reasons for doing so – whether practical, economic, ethical, historical, intuitive or spiritual. We look at these through interviews, stories, videos, and articles. You'll find many of the reasons inspiring.

How to do it – you can grow vines the biodynamic way

How does biodynamics live in a viticultural context? We start with the principle of the farm as a living organism as set out by Rudolf Steiner – and how this relates to a vineyard. There is an easy connection with the core concept of terroir in winegrowing. We then look at the use of the biodynamic preparations and other natural treatment methods in supporting the health and well-being of life in the vineyard. The influence of the lunar cycles and natural rhythms of life are also covered, so that we give you the full picture.

Demeter – the gold standard for certification

The key certification label orginates from Demeter International, the Demeter trademark and the international standards by which all biodynamic winegrowers are certified. Here we give you the main requirements for a vineyard to be certified as biodynamic, with guidance on how to begin the process.

What people say about the Course

Colm McCan

Wine Teacher, Ballymaloe, Ireland

It was absolutely brilliant! Robin is a great speaker and the course content was so well presented and put together. I have been teaching wine appreciation classes here in Co. Cork Ireland for the past 16 years and I really appreciated all the work that Robin put into putting together an amazing learning experience for this course for all the participants. It was superb, Robin is outstanding, I so enjoyed it that I would happily do it all over again!

Chris Reynolds

New vineyard coming! Somewhere in Wiltshire

Robin was great. The materials he created, shared and presented were so valuable. He gave a full view of a year in biodynamic viticulture: what sprays to use at what time – I found that incredibly useful. I also loved his approach to the farm as a living organism. It’s not just about the planting of vines, there are more holistic things such as the animals you keep and the management of water and power.

Bart Keijzer

Domein Holset, Sparkling Wine House, Netherlands

I enjoyed expanding my knowledge, especially the seminar about natural rhythms and vineyard health. I would recommend the course to all of my colleagues and friends interested in starting with biodynamics. I also took the Introduction to Biodynamics course from BDAC and found it helpful to have a general intro before the viticulture course.

Christiane Racine

Sticle Vineyard, Wales

This course confirmed that understanding one's vineyard mesoclimate of weather, biodiversity of its soil and natural surrounding, and the grapevine's growth cycle and health is the only way forward for our vineyard. This course explains how to achieve all this without the use of harmful synthetic chemicals. Purity in the viticulture methods is reflected in the purity of the grapes and the wines. Robin is an experienced vineyard owner and he practices what he teaches. That was a huge part of the success of this course. I would recommend to every vineyard owner.

Sage Redman

La Garagista Farm & Winery, Vermont

I loved learning about each biodynamic preparation and specifically enjoyed hearing how Robin utilised them in his own vineyard. I thought Robin was a wonderful teacher. I really enjoyed his presentations as they were very easy to follow along with. I loved his use of visuals - videos, photos etc. I would recommend this course to anyone interested in working a vineyard biodynamically! Or anyone in the wine industry that wants a more in depth look at what it takes to work in this way.

Spaces are limited

Previous years have sold out – so we recommend signing up early

Register now

2025 Key Dates

We will be running a two-hour zoom session, led by Robin, every other Tuesday from 7-9pm (UK time) on the following dates:

  • 21 January 2025
  • 4 February 2025
  • 18 February 2025
  • 4 March 2025
  • 18 March 2025


These webinars are recorded so if you miss a session don't panic – you'll be able to catch up in your own time!

You'll be taught by

Instructor

Robin Snowdon

Robin is co-owner, vineyard manager and winemaker for Limeburn Hill Vineyard near Bristol, the first biodynamic vineyard in the south-west of England. Planted in 2015, the vineyard grows eight different varieties of vine, and produces only certified biodynamic and natural wines. Robin originally worked as an architect and a landscape architect before training as a university lecturer, teaching Landscape Architecture at degree and postgraduate level for 10 years. He teaches regular workshops in Biodynamic Wine growing on the vineyard, and is the current Chair of the UK Biodynamic Association (BDA) Certification Board.

With contributions from

Monty Waldin biodynamic wine writer, wine critic and wine grower


Nick Wenman and Alex Valsecchi of Albury Vineyard, Surrey


Ben Walgate of Tillingham Vineyard, East Sussex


Doug Wregg director of Les Caves de Pyrene


Birgit Braunstein owner Braunstein wine estate, Burgenland, Austria


Michael Schmelzer owner Monte Bernardi wine estate, Chianti, Italy


Georg Meissner, viticulture teacher,  Geisenheim and winemaker, Roussillon, France


John and Kym Kalleske from the Kalleske estate, Barossa Valley, Australia


 

New to Biodynamics?

If you have no familiarity with the subject, we suggest you take our Introduction to Biodynamics course. Register below and get started now

Teaching and Learning Methods

  • Delivered over five sessions, with one or two weeks between sessions to allow for further reading and exploration of the content covered

  • Live digital seminar covering a specific theme included in each session

  • Additional resources will be made available for students to explore each theme in more depth between sessions, including articles, research papers, chapters from books, videos, podcasts, etc.

  • Simple exercises to encourage students to apply the learning to their own context and situation

  • Videos, recorded interviews and case studies from the UK and around the world will allow students to learn from a diverse range of biodynamic winegrowers

  • Interviews with other experts connected with biodynamic winegrowing (journalists, authors, importers, retailers, etc.) will help place Biodynamic Viticulture in a wider cultural and economic context

Learn about upcoming courses

If you can't join the 2025 sessions, but want to know about future courses, do provide your email below – we'll make sure you'll be the first to know

FAQs

  • When is the course starting?

    The course will begin late-January 2025, with the first bi-weekly seminar on Tuesday 21 January 7-8pm (UK time). As these Zoom webinars will be recorded, you will be able to access them afterwards at you convenience.

  • What technology do I need to fully participate in the course?

    The course is best accessed through a computer or tablet. You also need a reliable internet connection, especially if you want to join the Zoom webinars live rather than watching the recordings. You can use a smartphone though some PDF material may be harder to read.

  • How much time does the course take?

    You should be able to work through the core curriculum in a few hours a session in addition to the live seminars which will last for two hours. However, if you choose, it may take more time to explore the additional resources available.

  • What support is available?

    Course instructors can answer questions during the webinars, in the group discussions or the course community. The online learning coordinator, James, will also be available to answer any technical problems you may have.

  • I have another question, who can I ask?

    If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to email our Online Learning Coordinator, James at: [email protected]