Episode 14

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Published on:

15th Nov 2023

What the Fox Knew - The National Biodynamic Conference

Welcome to a special edition of the Troon Talk Podcast recorded during the National Biodynamic Conference in Westminster, Colorado, this November. Please excuse the quality of these recordings made during the conference in public places using Bluetooth microphones. However, I am sure you will find the content more than worthwhile.

The first segment is a discussion between Dr. Lynne Carpenter-Boggs, a professor of soil science and chair of crop and soil sciences at Washington State University, and Troon Vineyard’s director of agriculture, Garett Long. Her research and teaching have included soil microbiology, alternative agricultural systems, and composting. Her work often bridges the gap between biodynamic grower observations and scientific principles.

In our second segment, we present Garett’s keynote address at the end of the conference that focused on the future of biodynamics 100 years after Rudolf Steiner gave the agriculture lectures that formed the foundations of biodynamic and organic agriculture.

Troon Vineyard

Demeter USA

Garett Long - garett@troonvineyard.com

Craig Camp - craig@troonvineyard.com

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About the Podcast

Wine Camp
Digging deep into Biodynamic Regenerative Organic winegrowing and farming
Troon Vineyard is Oregon's only Demeter Biodynamic® and Regenerative Organic Certified® winery and farm. Our Troon Talk podcast episodes explore our voyage to farm like the world depends on it and to naturally craft fine wines and grow healthful, nutritionally rich produce.

About your host

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Craig Camp

Today I am a biodynamic winegrower in Oregon's Applegate Valley, but I was born and raised in Harvard, Illinois, a land of Manhattans, Pabst beer and Friday-night fish fries — wine was unknown. However, during a college semester spent studying in Europe I discovered fine wine and food.

After graduating from college, I worked as a photojournalist and food and wine writer for four years before my passion for food and wine overwhelmed my sense of reality. In 1980, I joined Direct Import Wine Company, where I assembled an elite portfolio of estate wines in the Chicago market. In 1996 the company was devoured by Paterno Imports (who later fed it to Southern Wine and Spirits), but I remained at Direct as president until 1999, when I left in a fit of sanity prompted by an outburst of ethics.

In 2000 I left to pursue an education in wine production. I spent the next three years happily working in Italy, where I studied winemaking and worked in the cellars of some of Italy’s most elite wine estates in Barolo and Barbaresco. Upon returning to the United States in 2004, I became President of Anne Amie Vineyards, previously known as Chateau Benoit. Over the next several years, I totally revolutionized the winemaking and marketing. In 2009 I moved to Napa Valley and did the same for Cornerstone Cellars.

Now I am general manager of Troon Vineyard, fomenting another revolution in the beautiful Applegate Valley of southern Oregon. Surrounded by the Siskiyou Mountains, we are making natural wines and are now Demeter Biodynamic® and Regenerative Organic Gold Certified® both in the vineyard and the cellar. I am currently president of both the Applegate Valley Vintners Association and the Rhone Rangers and serve on the Board of Directors of the Oregon Winegrowers Association and the Rogue Valley Vintners. I have served on the Board of Directors of the Howell Mountain Growers Association and on the Napa Valley Vintners Association Marketing Committee, of which I also served as chairman.

My single-minded goal is to make great wine and farm like the world depends on it.