CleverRoot

5 4 | t h e c l e v e r r o o t NESTLED IN MENDOCINO'S idyllic Anderson Valley, Domaine Anderson looks a little like heaven on earth. Towering redwood trees strike a lovely contrast against the blue-green serpentinite rock and whisper white fog that creeps in and out of the valley. Add the impression of mankind's careful touch on the landscape in the form of 50 acres of lovingly-tended Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines, and one would be hard-pressed to find ways to enhance this already divine image. But that's exactly what the team at Domaine Anderson set out to accomplish in 2011 when the property was acquired by Louis Roederer via its U.S. subsidiary Maisons Marques & Domaines USA. "The winery was originally Jim Ball but was never finished nor in production, and although the original property was farmed convention- ally, it has always leaned towards sustainability," explains Domaine Anderson's winemaker Darrin Low. This differentiation is important when tak- ing on land that will be converted to biodynamic practices, "which was always the vision of the owners, who began the process of organic and Demeter certification as soon as the property was purchased in 2011," Low adds. Now in their fourth year of practicing Biody- namics, the team at Domaine Anderson has seen how the vineyards have responded—the vines are vigorous, the fruit is well balanced and the soil has an abundance of nutrition. "We have embraced Biodynamics and promote a holistic approach to our vineyard with the addition of honeybees, beneficial insects and the integration of livestock on the property," ex- plains Xavier Barlier, Vice President of Commu- nications for Maisons Marques & Domaines. "Our goal is to improve soil and plant structure that will yield higher-quality grapes in order to pro- duce super-premium Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that reflect their Anderson Valley terroir." In 2014, Domaine Anderson produced their first wine from the 2012 vintage and received Demeter certification in 2017—a testament to their commitment to sustainability and the future success of the estate. The team, led by The tenets of biodynamic agriculture demand that a farm be viewed as a self- contained and self-sustaining organism, with emphasis placed on the integration of crops and livestock, soil maintenance, and the health and well-being of the animals, the farmer, the farm and the earth. HAUTE (VITI)CULTURE C O URT E S Y OF DO M AI N E A N D E R SO N DOMAINE ANDERSON AIMS FOR THE STARS—AND OTHER ASTRAL BODIES—THROUGH ITS BIODYNAMIC PRACTICES BY KAREN MONEYMAKER BIODYNAMICS

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