Wine lover works to bring biodynamic wine to Saskatchewan

Biodynamic wine has been making its way to Saskatchewan, largely due to the work of Shawn Dalton and his business partner.

The team owns MeraWine. It's a Saskatchewan agency that works with the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority to bring in different kinds of wines, many of them biodynamic.

Biodynamicsis basically an attempt to incorporate these forces into the growing process.- Shawn Dalton, MeraWine

Biodynamic wines are made with a certain agricultural process. It's similar to the organic wine process, except with the addition of specific treatments done throughout the year. Many of these treatments are an attempt to use forces such as solar energy and magnetism.

"Biodynamics is basically an attempt to incorporate these forces into the growing process," Dalton said.

One of the most provocative treatments involves a cow horn. Grape growers stuff the horn with manure and bury it in the ground allowing it to ferment in the winter months. They unearth it in the spring time, dilute it, and then use it on the crops.

Dalton said he and his business partner didn't originally set out to focus on biodynamic wine.

"It just so happened over the course of the year, every wine that we found that we absolutely loved we turned around and did some research on it and found that biodynamics played a part in the production."

Biodynamic wines can usually be found in the organic wine section. They should have the symbol of the Demeter certification board. They can be found in liquor stores and select restaurants.

Horns of plenty

12 years ago

Duration 2:10

A B.C. Okanagan winery uses manure from a lactating cow, which is packed into bullhorns