Wine as Horoscopes
“The discovery of a wine is of greater moment than the discovery of a constellation. The universe is too full of stars.” —Benjamin Franklin, c. 1700s
Astrology may not be scientifically validated, but for many people, it remains a significant cultural experience and personal practice. Its long history spans thousands of years across many cultures, having been used for occasions ranging from personal insight to political decision-making.
THE CONCEPT
Known for her significant contributions to biodynamic agriculture1, late German farmer and researcher Maria Thun focused her work on the influence of lunar and planetary cycles on plant growth, noting how these cosmic rhythms could impact agriculture practices. As a result, she developed the Biodynamic Sowing and Planting Calendar, an extensive lunar calendar outlining the optimal times for planting, cultivating, and harvesting various crops based on lunar phases, solar cycles, astrological constellations, and movement of other planets. This calendar is used globally year after year surrounding decisions in sowing, planting, and harvesting fruit, vegetables, flowers, and other crops as well as by beekeepers, cheesemakers, and butter churners — all subject to the moon’s influence.
Twelve constellations are categorized into four groupings, each corresponding to the “types” of days in Maria’s guide:
Root for Earth signs (Virgo, Capricorn, Taurus): ideal for planting, cultivating, and harvesting root crops in order to enhance root development and soil fertility
Flower for Air signs (Libra, Aquarius, Gemini): favorable for planting and caring for flowering plants in order to promote flowering and development of blooms
Leaf for Water signs (Scorpio, Pisces, Cancer): best for planting and working leafy crops in order to enhance growth and promote healthy foliage
Fruit for Fire signs (Sagittarius, Aries, Leo): optimal for planting and tending to fruit crops in order to encourage fruit production and ripening
As the moon moves through each constellation in turn every month (approximately ~27-28 days for it to complete one cycle), the designated type of “day” takes the helm. There are occasionally periods considered “unfavorable” for any aspect of biodynamic agriculture, usually due to other planetary influences or an eclipse. As for the activity of drinking wine, fruit and flower days are considered more desirable, a trend incidentally unearthed by the wine industry at large.
As seen with biodynamic agriculture, storytelling plays a key role in astrology, principally with narrative structure and chart interpretation. The astrological symbols we know today are rooted in ancient myths and legends — after all, planets are named after Roman gods whose characteristics are often derived from mythological stories. Teeming with archetypes, themes, and symbolism, astrology invites engaging storytelling in order to communicate and frame the “insights” and “predictions” from one’s star chart.
Traditional astrology operates on several general principles. Co-Star best describes planets as the “verbs”, while astrological signs are the “adverbs”: our Sun sign embodying ego and motivations, our Moon sign ruling emotional natures, and our Rising (or Ascendant) sign conveying the energy put into the world.
For inquiring minds, I’m a Pisces Sun with an Aquarius Moon and a Virgo Rising. Piscean traits include being happiest when thinking everything is a sign; when finding an outlet for their creative expression; and when feeling like they’re being swallowed up by something larger than themselves. My experience with wine embraces these sentiments, whether in arranging tastings, exploring new grape varieties and regions, or documenting it all here on Substack.
THE CHART
With that in mind, I thought it would be fun to mock up my own oenology chart vis-à-vis astrological interpretation — at least for the planets that rule a person and not a generation (i.e., Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto). For chart construction, I borrowed the verb-adverb structure from Co-Star, using wines and their related terms as the latter.
PINOT BLANC Sun ☀️
My wine tastes are fundamentally as versatile and well-traveled as this variety. I also frequently behave as second string to more ambitious individuals, ones who I’d deem the grape equivalent of Chardonnay.
TROUSSEAU (GRIS) Moon 🌙
I experience emotion when I have an opportunity to drink and taste this rare variety, especially during my annual Le Grand Prix du Trousseau Gris tasting, as its conception deeply reflects my wine personality.
SAVAGNIN Rising 🙌
I seem as idiosyncratic as this curious variety from the Jura, which can appear Sherry-like as vin jaune; sweet and concentrated as vin de paille; as well as dry and full-bodied as sparkling or still blancs.
PINOT NOIR Mercury 💬
I communicate my mindset in wine through grasping the breadth of Pinot Noir all over the world, in both sparkling and still realms.
MÉTHODE CHAMPENOISE Venus 💖
I love sparkling wines made in the traditional method, whether it be from Champagne or elsewhere. It also indicates how I express affection — Champagne and Champagne-adjacent wines for toasting any and all occasions, big or small.
NEBBIOLO Mars 💪
I take action through introducing everyone I know and meet that great Nebbiolo need not come exclusively from Barolo and Barbaresco — Nicholas Altare and ARPEPE are among my favorites.
ANDALUCÍA Jupiter 🌿
I expand my wine worldview through this region’s mind-blowing range of winemaking history, from its fortified tradition to the renascent vinos de pasto.
BOURGOGNE BLANC Saturn 🫡
I discipline myself in conceding my own limitations surrounding wines which I’ve struggled to love, namely white Burgundy with heavier malolactic fermentation. Instead I pivot future hesitations into a challenge — a determined search for white Burgundies striking my preferred balance in viticultural and winemaking choices. So far that list includes the general Aligoté grape as well as the Côte de Beaune village of Saint-Aubin.
THE CODA
At the end of the day, we all just want the world to understand us — for us to be seen by others and to feel a part of something bigger than ourselves. Sometimes the cognizance goes without saying, but in many instances, postulations like astrology help provide the framework to make this possible. It’s likely why so many phenomena akin to astrology exist — like numerology, enneagrams, Myer-Briggs type indicators, Hogwarts houses, Sex and the City characters, Chinese zodiac signs, love languages, etc.
The word horoscope comes from the Greek words hora for ‘hour’ (hora) and skopos for ‘watcher/observer’, with ‘marker of the hour’ as its literal translation. In ancient Greece, horoscope was used to describe a diagram illustrating the positions of celestial bodies at a specified time like a person’s birth, which was believed to influence fate and character. What is wine if not markers for a moment of time?
One of my favorite things to do is recommend wines to people, especially if I know them well. Recommendations are opportunities to let someone know you’re thinking of them — wow, I can’t believe you remembered!2 Like an astrologer examining the positions and movements of celestial bodies, I find myself studying the preferences and bêtes noires of friends and plotting them all onto mental oenology charts, with ensuing “horoscopes” read into bottles.
Won’t you let me be your wine oracle — forging your oenology chart and divining your next glass or bottle? I see it so very clearly — in the runes, in the tea leaves, in the tarot, in the crystal ball, in the stars! You’re on the right path, toward a strong connection with someone in your present (ahem). I promise all the details, but only if I’m to tag along!
à la Rachel Green in Episode 1x24: “The One Where Rachel Finds Out” from Friends