Proprietor Johnathan Grieve says it has been a long but rewarding journey. "When I joined Avondale in 1999, the farm was suffering from years of chemical abuse. In order to restore the natural balance and produce extraordinary wines in keeping with the family’s long term vision, we had to be innovative in our approach, and so Bio-LOGIC was born." The Bio-LOGIC approach combines the best aspects of organic and biodynamic principles with the latest advances in modern science. Great care is taken to only use natural solutions to pests and to maintain balance in the Avondale ecosystem. When there's an outbreak of snails or minor pests, Grieve unleashes his team of white ducks, wasps and natural bacteria. Biodynamic principles takes advantage of the influence of the cosmos on our natural environment, and Avondale follows the astronomical calendar during planting and picking times. In 2003, Grieve installed an ultra-modern gravity-flow cellar; ensuring the highest quality slow wines while also making the least amount of negative impact on the wine and the environment. "It is an extraordinary process, complex and slow, but ultimately rewarding. Bio-LOGIC allows us to do no harm to our natural environment while also producing hand-crafted wines that are truly exceptional," says Grieve. Avondale is guided by their ethos of 'Terra est vita', or 'Soil is life'. Grieve explains: "We view our environment as a dynamic living system where everything on the farm, from the soil and water to the people, the cellar and the winemaking process are part of a complex interconnected and interdependent network." The new range of wines also reflects the Avondale ethos in their names. "Our lively Chenin Blanc reflects the minerals of our land. Our white blend refers to the cycle of perpetual renewal in nature, particularly on our farm, and our flagship red blend is the embodiment of Avondale’s unique luminescence and character,” Grieve explains. Avondale produces and sells seven wines, which includes three reds, two whites, a rosé and an effervescent sparkling wine made in the Methode Cap Classique tradition. Each of Avondale's strikingly-different wines is certified organic and available at the best restaurants and specialist wine stores. For more information about Avondale visit www.avondalewine.co.za.