a Documentary Project

I suppose you could grab a bottle and forget all the worries of the world. But beyond that this industry is diving into a multitude of ways to support the environment

Vineyards both large and small are embracing farming methods that revitalize their soils without chemicals. This in turn sequesters carbon which my friends are a huge factor in mitigating climate change.

Beyond that they are reducing their carbon footprints with renewable energy, waste reclamation, & conservation, creating biodiversity on their properties, reducing their impact on the environment by finding new and old packaging methods. Finally, they are looking at the people creating community & Respect within their teams and beyond in their larger community.

Each Vineyard has its own path, its own story. By sharing these stories, they inspire a movement which yes my friend could save the planet.

Revitalize the Planet through Agriculture

We find ourselves drawn to biodynamic vineyards and wineries. The wines they produce are just a step ahead in taste and nuance, and we wanted to discover why. We started pursuing interviews with biodynamic wineries. Tablas Creek, Montinore Estate, Syncline, and Hedges Family Wine were all early on our list. We found ourselves drawn to their wine and how they farmed their grapes, the way they expressed themselves, the way they looked at not just their vineyards but the planet.

When we traveled to Australia with the Wine Media Conference, we visited Krinklewood and Lowe wines. Back in the United States, in the Applegate Valley, we discovered Troon and Cowhorn. In the Willamette Valley, we found Johan. More recently we discovered, Marcel Zanolari, Cirelli and Emidio Pepe in Italy.

Visiting these vineyards and tasting their wines only reinforced the belief that farming biodynamically and applying the extra effort to make the soil and ecosystem better were, in FACT, making these wines better.

Former Cowhorn owner Bill Steele told us during an interview on Biodynamics, “in Biodynamics we found our people”. In a sense we also found our own people, and continue to find our own people through winemakers, writers, and advocates, all working separately towards the same goal. What is that goal? To have a purpose that is meaningful, providing better food, making a wine that you are proud to share with family and friends, leaving the farm and planet better than you found it.

Can Wine Save the Planet

is a fiscally sponsored project of the International
Documentary Association (IDA), 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization. Contributions in
support of Can Wine Save the Planet are payable to IDA and are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

Click Here to be taken to the International
Documentary Association (IDA) Website to donate to this Project

Project Description

This is our story, the protagonist is us, the antagonist is us, the solution is us, the solutions are right in front of us. This is the story of an intricate web of ECO-minded Vintners and Farmers leading the path forward to Revitalize the Planet through Agriculture. This is all about telling the stories of those doing the work to revitalize their soils using Biodynamic and Regenerative Organic agriculture to make better food and better wine. These leaders are restoring a living ecosystem that puts carbon back into the soil and reduces the effect of Climate Change. This is the story of our Survival.

Story Summary/Synopsis

This Documentary project is going to show an ecosystem of Vintners in their small microcosms, working with nature to create better soil, which in turn creates more vibrant and energetic wines. Using farming methods like Biodynamics and Regenerative agriculture not only are they making better wine, but also grow trees, vegetables, and animals. They are creating a living ecosystem that is sequestering carbon, stopping erosion, and is a major solution to helping to solve our climate issues.

The stories of each of these Vintners is interlinked even when they are miles or continents away,

This is a 7-year plan to create a multi-media and experiential path forward, inspiring a younger generation to jump in to farm, providing better food and creating better ecosystems to help take them through the climate change they will be facing. We will be following experts and farmers doing the work, and telling their stories as an example of the work and determination required to make these changes for the better.

It is a story with many steps along the way, side issues, and other rabbit holes to dive down and explore. We will follow new paths and ideas and incorporate them into the elaborate mesh of this story. We will gather people along the way to help build path forward, where we are all working towards a better and healthier environment! The end result is show how this process works.

As the Regenerative Organic Alliance motto states, “Farm like the World Depends upon it!”

This will be similar to the “Biggest Little Farm” Documentary with a much wider group of people across many different regions, with different problems, different soils, and different climates, so we get to see how each region solves its problems and endures.

With two other Feature Films to follow

Can Wine Save the Planet, Across the Ecoverse

Can Wine Save the Planet, Yes it Can.

Cowhorn Winery in Applegate Valley Oregon farming Biodynamically

Can Wine Save the Planet?

Soil, Bio diversity, Regeneration, an Eco Solution

This is an introductory feature film that will introduce Biodynamic Farming and how it revitalizes soil.

We will also introduce the idea of Regenerative Organic Certification and its 3 pillars to the public.

Soil Health, beginning with the National Organic Program (NOP) standards and adding Carbon capture, building soil organic matter, conservation tillage, cover crops, promotion of biodiversity, and rotational grazing.

Animal Welfare, including the “five freedoms”: freedom from discomfort, freedom from fear & distress, freedom from hunger, freedom from pain, injury or disease, and freedom to express normal behavior.

Farmworker Fairness, including living wages, safe working conditions, long-term commitments, transparency & accountability, and collaborative leadership.

The meat of the story is how these people got started, their path, their evolution, their perseverance, their leadership, all inspiring in their unique way. All part of one Thriving Ecosystem. The story will be created by hearing their stories and following their paths.

A story that is right in front of our faces, but not yet heard.

Our team of Winemaker Advocates

This team includes people who want to experiment, ask questions, evolve learn, grow share, make the world a better place, make a difference, all while creating delicious wine.

Tablas Creek,

Paso Robles California

Documentary Project, Revitalize the Planet with agriculture, Tablas Signs with Cert

Visit Tablas Creek

This winery is a collaboration between the Haas Family of Vineyard Brands and the Perrin Family of Chateau du Beaucastel that began in 1987.

Together they searched for the appropriate place on the West Coast to plant a vineyard. They found this land in the western part of Paso Robles that had limestone soils and a climate similar to that of Chateauneuf du Pape in France’s Rhône Valley.

They gradually brought in cuttings from Beaucastel of all 7 of the varieties grown there were planted. Beyond that, they brought in another 7 varieties. With those additional grapes, they grow all the varieties approved in Chateauneuf du Pape.

They started the vineyard using organic principles and received their organic certification in 2003, then leaned into Biodynamic farming and received their Demeter Biodynamic Certification in 2017. In 2020 they became the first Regenerative Organic Certified vineyard in the world.

Their team includes a biodynamic director, a regenerative specialist, a viticulturist, and a shepherd, among others. Sheep graze in the vineyard when it is safe for the vines and range in other parts of this biodiverse property when it is not.

They are leading the industry, pushing the needle not just to make delicious wines (which they most definitely do) but also to take responsibility for the future of the planet.

Troon Vineyard,

Applegate Valley Oregon

Visit Troon Vineyard

Troon Vineyard has been in Oregon’s Applegate Valley since 1972, originally farmed conventionally, as was the norm at the time. When Dr. Bryan White and his wife Denise purchased the property in 2017, they began the conversion to biodynamic. Craig Camp, the General Manager, found and nurtured a team that now nurtures this property. Replanting about 10 acres each year due to red blotch, they are now not only Demeter Certified as Biodynamic, but they were the 2^nd vineyard in the world to be Regenerative Organic Certified (just behind Tablas Creek).

Troon is smaller than Tablas, with a smaller team, and the two work together, exchanging ideas and working to make this kind of viticulture the norm.

At Troon, you can stroll the gardens where they grow the plants for their biodynamic preparations and have signs to explain the plants and preparations.

They are experimenting with the preparations, looking for natural items from the property to make biodynamic preparations from items right here on the property. Cultivating that closed system where the farm and vineyard can be as self-sufficient as possible.

Beckmen Vineyards,

Santa Barbara California

Visit Beckmen Vineyards

Steve Beckmen farms 2 family vineyards in Santa Barbara, the Thomas and Judith Beckmen Estate Vineyard in the Los Olivos District AVA and the Purisima Mountain Vineyard in the Ballard Canyon AVA. Purisima Mountain was the first Demeter Certified biodynamic vineyard in Santa Barbara County.

Inspired by a college friend who was using the principals in his garden and then by a meeting with Biodynamic consultant Philippe Armunier, they began small testing the method on just one block of Syrah in 2002 and expanded until now this method is used on all 40 acres of the Purisima Mountain Vineyard. They strive through this method of farming to be free of external inputs.

When they started, they immediately saw the results. Mind you, this is not a family that chases trends. They find what works and stick with it. Biodynamics worked for them, leading them to produce their delicious flagship Ballard Canyon Syrah from Purisimo Mountain Vineyard.

Montinore Estate,

Willamette Valley Oregon

Visit Montinore Estate

Montinore Estate was established in 1982 in the Tualatin Hills of the Northwestern Willamette Valley. Rudy Marchesi now presides over this 200-acre biodynamic vineyard.

This property had previously been a hazelnut farm and a cattle ranch, and in the 80s, when Mount St. Helens erupted, the lower fields that at the time were planted to vegetables were covered in ash. In 1982 the Grahams, who owned the property at the time, did a study and decided to plant vines.

Rudy had been working with the winery and encouraged them to move to biodynamics to combat phylloxera, which had been causing them to rip out vines. He started studying soil microbiology. He also realized that the wines that he liked the best were biodynamic.

He began using these practices in his own garden, and the results were undeniable.

Rudy has hosted Biodynamic educational events and was part of the International Biodynamic Viticulture Group. He is a mentor for biodynamic farmers and vintners in Oregon and beyond.

Beckham Estate Vineyard,

Willamette Valley Oregon

Documentary Project, Revitalize the Planet with agriculture, Amphora from Beckham

Visit Beckham Estate Vineyard

Andrew Beckham is a potter, a teacher, and a winemaker. He and his wife Annedria found this property in the Chehalem Mountains of Oregon’s Willamette Valley to build an art studio and home in 2004. Andrew was teaching art at nearby Beaverton High School, and they intended to have a studio for him to work in and a home to raise a family with a garden.

They quickly got to know neighbors who were growing grapes and fell in love with the idea of growing some themselves. That expanded into the now having ½ of their 34 acres planted to wine grapes. They farm organically. Their children and animals roam the property, and they want it to be safe. They have also included many biodynamic principles in their farming. The idea of animals grazing and the property becoming a holistic system, integrated and working together, is important to them. After 2012 they moved to no-till farming.

Annedria was leafing through a wine trade magazine during this journey and came across an article on Elizabetta Foradori. The article had a picture of the woman surrounded by these beautiful terra cotta vessels in her cellar. When she showed the article to Andrew, he said, “I can make those.” The rest, as they say, is history.

Andrew founded Novum Ceramics and became the first commercial producer of Winemaking Amphorae in the country. Multiple winemakers use his amphorae, and he has a waiting list for these beautiful vessels.

Syncline Winery,

Columbia Gorge

Visit Syncline Winery

On the Washington side of the Columbia Gorge AVA, Syncline Winery sits on the Steep Creek Ranch Vineyard. James Mantone and his wife Poppie made their first vintage in 1999. They had met a few years before in the Willamette Valley, where they worked together at a custom crush house. They moved to the Columbia Valley and found this property in 2003. They now have 17 acres of estate vineyards.

James speaks of the “tortured topography” of the gorge, and they sit where the gorge transitions from the cool marine influence to the high desert climate.

The vineyards they farm are farmed with biodynamic and organic philosophies and practices. They work to feed the microorganisms in the soil, nurturing native plants as cover crops and using organic compost.

He and Poppie have been involved in biodynamics for over 20 years. They do it for themselves, their family, & their work environment.

Farming is meaningful work for them. James told me when we visited “Food and beverage should do more than just provide fats, carbs, and protein.” I couldn’t agree more.

Wilridge Winery,

Yakima Valley

Documentary Project, Revitalize the Planet through agriculture, Sunrise Wilridge Biodynamic

Visit Wilridge Winery

Just outside of the Yakima Valley AVA in Naches Heights, you find Wilridge Vineyard. Paul Beverage has been making wine since 1988, and Wilridge is the oldest winery in Seattle. In 2007 he planted the Wilridge Vineyard and became the first Organic and Biodynamic Vineyard, Winery & Distillery (Yes, he makes artisan brandy) in Washington State.

He remains one of only a few Biodynamic Certified Vineyards in the state. He chose this method because he saw the difference in the bottle. The wines worldwide that he found to be the highest quality came from biodynamic vineyards.

In addition, he sees the climate in Washington as being perfectly suited for this method of agriculture. They have lots of sun and little rain, so worries about fungal disease are minimal.

There is a downside, grapes grow well here, and so do weeds. Still, he prefers the labor and cost of weeding to the use of Glyphosate (Round Up) in the vineyards. On his site, he has a paraphrased quote from Rudolf Steiner “One cannot enhance life by spraying death.”

Hedges Family Estate,

Red Mountain Washington

Visit Hedges Family Estate

Tom Hedges was raised in the Tri-Cities area of Washington State. He worked in International Produce Sales, traveling the world with his family. Tom & Anne-Marie Hedges purchased the land for Hedges Family Estate in 1989 on Red Mountain in Washington’s Yakima Valley.

Sarah Hedges Goedhart grew up spending summers here at the vineyard. After getting hooked on wine in Santa Barbara, she spent time working in Healdsburg at Preston, where she learned all about organic and biodynamic viticulture.

In 2006 Sarah became the assistant winemaker, and in 2007 they began the conversion of the family vineyards to biodynamics. In 2015 Sarah Hedges Goedhart became the head winemaker.

They use chickens for pest control. You see them roaming the property, including the beautiful French-style Château.

When we visited with Sarah back in 2019, she told me why biodynamics was so important to her

“Preserving land for the future, for kids, for everybody. I think that’s the one thing on this planet that we’re screwing up, and we really need to turn it around. What do we call ourselves? Stewards of the land, it’s our responsibility to keep it around.”

This is our Avengers initiative, a group assembled to lead the way forward and