What is biodynamic agriculture?

Tenuta Canto alla Moraia is an organic farm undergoing biodynamic certification. We are inspired by Rudolf Steiner's holistic, anthroposophical view of crops, which should be understood as parts of a living, complex system. 

According to Steiner's teachings, cosmic influence in practical farm life is of paramount importance. The life forces that promote the fertility of the earth and the growth of plants come into agricultural practices according to a lunar calendar developed some 2,700 years ago that was the result of a form of instinctive knowledge of our ancestors.

According to the biodynamic method, in order to bring life force into the agricultural soil, preparations of natural origin are needed that can improve the quality of the soil, and thus improve the quality of the harvest. Following a calendar of specific activities related to the phases of the moon, we use biodynamic preparations to care for roots, flowers, fruits and leaves. They act as catalysts that make the soil and plant plants more sensitive to cosmic forces favoring their growth. For this reason, our wines with their complexity, vigor, concentration and above all for their wholesomeness express the true spirit of our unique terroir of which we are deeply proud.

Doing biodynamic farming, producing excellent wine, means maintaining the balance between the different realms : mineral, plant, animal and astronomical by supporting diversity with a holistic approach.

In modern agriculture, the incidence of diseases and pests and the overall loss of quality of agricultural products is largely due to the lack of certain components of the agricultural system. In particular, the simplification of the system due to monocultures, the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers has resulted in the destruction of biodiversity.

Since 1945, the introduction of mechanized equipment has greatly increased the capacity for large-scale cultivation. However, mechanization has resulted in the depletion of the humus layer and soil compaction and a significant decrease in soil fertility, which is increasingly tending toward desertification.

On our farm we are working to reintroduce animal traction both to preserve soil structure and to increase soil fertility by using manure instead of synthetic fertilizers. In addition, weeds are kept under control by our beautiful geese that are free to roam the fields until the grapes are almost ripe and could become a temptation. 

Working the land with horses brings the farmer, but also the visitor to our farm, back in touch with the land and its complexity. It also allows the farmer to better analyze the general well-being of the crops and adapt his activities accordingly. For us, maintaining this balance between man and Nature is a commitment we face passionately every day. We invite you to visit us and share this treasure with us.