Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/74662
J-Tech_Dir08 11/27/07 2:06 PM Page 1 WINEMAKING In 2010 we were confronted in California with unprecedented mildew pressure that challenged the Biodynamics farmer, and the outcome will be illuminating. I find it rather creepy, however, that the so-called scientific crowd on Stu's blog is cheering for a Biody- namics disaster. Sorry, boys, but a real scien- tist doesn't take sides or delight in the misfor- tunes of those with differing points of view. Stu Smith's blogged response to a com- menter's olive branch was, "What's the harm and who gets hurt? Well for one, you do, if you accept the fantasy called Bio- dynamics, which is a make-believe world with no earthly connection to our func- tioning, real, material world. I don't want to live in a society that can't tell the differ- ence between fantasy and reality." Who does? But here we are anyhow. Ob- jective truth is a child's myth, and the na- ture of reality is a question the profs will al- ways dodge. Science isn't much of a security blanket. The more it illuminates, the more darkness is unconcealed. We hope that gain- ing expertise in our chosen field will give us comfort, but the opposite occurs as we real- ize our ignorance in ever greater depth. It makes us humble, not smug. At the core of true science is a sense of awe and wonder. Besides the apparent be- nevolent intentions of its participants, I am attracted to the experiment of Biodynam- ics because of its intractability to conven- tional scientific practices. In coming to- gether Biodynamics will benefit from scientific scrutiny, but more importantly, science itself may be induced to learn how to ask better questions. Clark Smith is winemaker for WineSmith and founder of wine technology firm Vinova- tion. He lectures about an ancient yet innovative view of American winemaking. To comment on this column, e-mail edit@winesandvines.com. References 1. This requires an entirely new science for which Manfred Clynes coined the term "Sentics" in his 1978 book of that name. 2. The Quark and the Jaguar, Murray Gell-Mann, 1994. 3. To describe polymers, each of which is chemi- cally unique, we need breakthroughs in physi- cal chemistry that will enable us to character- ize the properties of systems beyond individual moieties. We cannot predict skiing conditions by looking at electron micrographs of individu- al, unique snowflakes. We need to differentiate powder from slush. 4. biodynamicshoax.wordpress.com 5. planetplutowine.com/planetpluto/home.html 6. Counter Wine Bar video series: youtube.com/ watch?v=CMH_Hq2ZcuQ 7. See "Speculations about Minerality" in the No- vember 2010 issue of Wines and Vines AVAILABLE IN A VARIETY OF SHAPES & SIZES CONCRETE FERMENTATION/STORAGE TANKS TANKSINCONCRETE.COM QSEE US AT UNIFIED, BOOTH #829 Wines & Vines JAnUARY 2011 137 888-807-4575 Many of The World's Finest Wines Are Made in Concrete You've heard all the buzz about concrete, now see the best at unified booth #829 NA VIGA TION