Biologist Winery is based in the village of Lesnyky near Kyiv. For several years, they have been practicing organic and biodynamic methods of viticulture and winemaking and applied for the Demeter certificate.
Biologist wines are produced with minimal interference, spontaneous fermentation and strict temperature control. The winemakers are also using gravitational technology.
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Biologist Winery owners have two plots of vineyards in Lesnyky and Bezradychy, in Kyiv region, as well as one in Odesa region.
To increase the immunity of the vine and soil, the Biologist winegrowers avoid using artificial chemicals, such as herbicides and pesticides, while using natural herbal and mineral preparations instead.
Their plots can boast a remarkable collection of grape varieties. In Lisnyky, mainly typical French, Austrian and German varieties are grown: two reds - Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon, and whites - Grüner Veltliner, Müller-Thurgau, Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc), Gewürztraminer, Riesling and Chardonnay. In Bezradychy, a nearby village, the choice of vines is even more eclectic: reds — Pinot Noir and Saperavi, whites — Aligote, Gewürztraminer and the famous Ukrainian indigenous grape, Telti-Kuruk, which, until now, has been grown only in the south of Ukraine, in Odesa and Mykolaiv regions.
The total area of both vineyards does not exceed 3 hectares, but every year Biologist are expanding their vineyards, planting new vines and looking for new plots.
Viticultural methods include strict yield control and PH indicators control. Only mature grapes and undamaged berries are used for the production of Biologist wines.
Sulfites are used very moderately. New oak barrels used for fermentation and aging serve as natural antiseptic for Biologist wines. Most wines undergo long maceration (6-10 days) with the addition of dried cluster stems. Spontaneous fermentation occurs in such wines as Pinot Noir, Merlot, Odessa Black, Rkatsiteli, Chardonnay, Aligote.
Ihor Petrenko, co-owner and winemaker, considers his decision to produce not only organic and natural, but also biodynamic wines, to be a completely logical development: "Biodynamics is all about autonomy and harmony, totally matching my vision and perception of the world. It’s a constant search for a healthy balance in the relationship between humans, plants and animals coexisting in the same space, as well as immune protection and maintaining the biodiversity of each plot. I felt that this would be a very interesting path in viticulture and winemaking.“