We are honoured to welcome Dr Georg Meissner to our 2019 conference. His breadth of knowledge and diverse experience, combined with his passion to teach, will inspire organic and conventional delegates alike!
Meet Georg... and question the impact of biodynamics no more.
Dr Georg Meissner is a leading biodynamic farming and winegrowing consultant and head of production for Alois Lageder’s extensive winegrowing operations in the Alto Adige region of northern Italy. He is also a researcher in the Department of Viticulture at the Geisenheim Institute of Applied Sciences in Rheingau, Germany. Georg earned his degrees in technical viticulture and oenology in Montpellier, France, and his interest in organic and biodynamic grape growing has taken him around the world.
With the Geisenheim Institute, Georg has been conducting tests on three parcels of Riesling vines since 2006, evaluating the differences between conventional, organic and biodynamic viticulture. The takeaways are impressive and have further convinced Georg that biodynamics play an intrinsic part in the overall quality of soil, plant and wine. These findings have been verified by science, measuring parameters such as soil life (microbial activity, enzymes, nutrients, etc.), ripening and phenolic development of the grapes (differences in sugar, acid and pH) and flavour, to name just a few.
At Alois Lageder, Georg leads the agriculture, cellar, research and teaching departments. In partnership with European universities, the winery’s goal is to establish a training structure for biodynamic viticulture within a large winery. (Images below: Owner/operator Alois Lageder with Georg Meissner; a selection of vineyard views)
As a consultant, Georg has assisted numerous international wineries with their conversion to biodynamic viticulture. He has spent considerable time in South Africa, Luxembourg, France, Italy, Germany and the USA. Georg is excited to return to New Zealand and looks forward to visiting some of our forward-thinking wineries.
Georg’s private label, Georg Meissner, is made from his own parcel of land in Roussillon, France. The vineyard is comprised of very old vines of Carignan and Grenache, and the small production biodynamic wines are highly regarded.
In addition to grape growing, Georg consults on large agricultural businesses in Argentina and chairs the International Biodynamic Viticulture Group within Goetheanum’s ‘Section for Agriculture’ in Switzerland.
Organic Winegrowers New Zealand is delighted to have Dr Georg Meissner join our 2019 conference speaker programme. He certainly has a breadth of knowledge to share on organic and biodynamic farming.
“Great wine, great produce, comes from healthy and vibrant farms." – Dr. Georg Meissner