What is Biodynamic Wine?

Biodynamic is a grape growing philosophy invented in the 1920s by Rudolf Steiner. It revolves around the idea that a winemaker can take certain steps in the vineyard to encourage the vineyard to grow in a self-sustaining way--without chemical interference. Steiner conceived the Earth as a living organism with rhythms that the vineyard can be tied to. Through a complicated system of rituals, he believed a grower could augment the natural properties of the vine to increase production and defend itself. Biodynamic growers do seem to generate results, but the theories are not backed by science and critics argue that any benefit is due to the increased attention and effort of growers.