New Biodynamic Regulations Coming

Hey, have all of you deserted me? It's August and it feels as if I the only one in town waiting for the phone to ring or for the comments to rush in? It almost feels as if I'm the only one left here to watch the thunder and lightning in NYC which has been as dramatic as an El Greco canvas. Just checking. What about this question: did you read Jim Fullmer, president of Demeter USA's comment on my previous post? I like talking to Jim. As a farmer, he is quite ardent about biodynamics and a little new to the concept of wine and I also think a little amused at my take on things. Never-the-less, in our correspondence he has told me that he hopes some changes are in effect for the harvest of 2008. I wonder if I hear the influence of Nicolas Joly who has a few tier step for his Return to Terroir Group? If it goes through Biodynamics will have something for everyone. 1) Biodynamic Grapes (not wine) 2) Biodynamic Wine (from 100% bioD grapes) and those will come in two sizes: 2a) The normal Biodynamic wine which means you can mess with the wine process some. 2b) Gold Standard Biodynamic---which is ultimately a 'natural' wine. Interesting, though I see no point in anything but the gold standard. But at least it's going to be there. Here' a little bit from Jim's own email. ++++In the wine section of the processing standard there are 2 labeling categories. In the "old" USA standard about to be revised ( December 2006) the categories were/ are "made with BD grapes" and "Biodynamic Wine" ( being the one w/ less modification allowed). In the revision it is looking like the "made with" terminology will be gone because it is to easily confused w/ the confusion that goes on in the "organic " world. It is likely that category will be "Biodynamic Wine" and the un- modified category " Biodynamic Gold Standard". The goal for the later is to have the Demeter logo for this category in gold and easily identified on the bottle. I admit that this is a needed improvement in labeling so folks can easily identify it on the store shelf. Both categories mean 100% Biodynamic grapes , always have always will. Again getting rid of the "made with" so as to not get stuck in the vortex of the organic mess, 70% what have you....