Three-tiers for morality
Re: “Oregon Wineries Face Event Restrictions,” winesandvines.com Headlines Sept. 17. As long as the Oregon wine industry believes the Oregon Liquor Control Commission was established to “help” them, they will suffer from government monitoring of the morals of the state. I spent three years and over $100k developing a marketing system for Oregon wine, only to be frustrated by the intervention of the Oregon bureaucrats controlled by the three-tier distribution system. Until the Oregon wine industry (finest in the world, in my opinion) confronts the OLCC and rids itself of this millstone, it will continue to react to this kind of petty nitpicking.

Frank Siegler
Marketing consultant
Apple Valley, Minn.

Blame the Biodynamic messenger?
Would you please try to enlighten your readers about—rather than sell—Biodynamic farming? (“First Canadian Winery Certified Biodynamic,” winesandvines.com Headlines, Sept. 23.)

Consider this before you write another word about Biodynamic farming: On the weekend that Rudolf Steiner gave the Agricultural Lectures (these lectures are the basis of Biodynamic farming), he was communicating with the dead Gen. Moltke, the top WWI German general. The Agriculture Lectures are based on this same “clairvoyance.” 

Should Biodynamic farmers accept clairvoyant communication with the dead, which was very trendy and popular during Steiner’s lifetime? Does it make you wonder whether Steiner might have talked crazy talk during the lectures?

We work so hard trying to understand what is real and unreal in winemaking and vineyard care. Why would we give the ridiculous ideas of Rudolf Steiner notice? Steiner’s legacy is advocated by the Goetheanum in Dorach, Germany, with a budget of $2.2 million for 2009; Waldorf Schools worldwide; the commercial interests selling Biodynamic certification to farmers, and entrepreneurs who pander clairvoyance for a profit. 

Biodynamics is also advocated to the trusting public by writers in respected magazines such as yours.

John Hilliard
“A farmer with access to books”
Owner, Hilliard Bruce Vineyards
Santa Rita Hills, Calif.

Editor’s note: Wines & Vines does not advocate Biodynamics or any other type of farming. We cover trends within the industry, such as movement toward more sustainable methods of grapegrowing including organic and Biodynamic systems. The referenced story reports on the Canadian industry: Methods that prove successful for one producer may not necessarily be the right choice for others.