Interview with Christine Saurel of Domaine Montirius vineyards.
Domaine Montirius is located in the southern Rhone valley, in Gigondas and in Vacqueyras. The winery is owned and run by Christine and Eric Saurel, a young couple who have moved the vineyards to biodynamic culture. It is 58 hectares of vineyard in appellation controllee Gigondas, Vacqueyras and Cotes du Rhone, and some Vin de Pays. Eric and Christine have a fascinating story to tell – moving from traditional farming to organic to biodynamic; choosing to leave a long time relationship with the cooperative and start out as an independent winegrower. . .
Christine tells the story of how Montirius came to work with first organic farming and then the biodynamic principles (based on Rudolf Steiner’s theories). She explains some of the things it means: how you do it what kind of treatments you do, what difference it makes etc.
PART 5: MARIA THUN AND THE LIFE OF THE RADISH, AND THE CALENDARS
Christine explains one more preparation they use, created by Maria Thun. She also explains that things should be done according to certain biodynamic calendars: there are fruit days, root days, flower days and leaf days; planet phases etc. Also, the phase of the moon has an influence on winemaking, e.g. you should bottle when the moon is down. Harvest is best done in fruit days, but that is not always possible since there are only five fruit days in September…
A seven-part video series on Domaine Montirius, a biodynamic wine grower in the Rhone Valley:
- From traditional to organic
- Discovering biodynamic farming
- Leaving the co-operative
- Basics in biodynamic viticulture
- Maria Thun and the life of the radish
- Herbal preparations
- How a vine functions
