I’ve always had an interest in astrology and recently how it applies to wine and wine tasting. With all the hype about the Blood Moon during the lunar eclipse, it made me think about the moon and its impact on wine drinking.
The moon actually plays a crucial role in viticulture, influencing key vineyard activities such as pruning and harvest, as well as (for many) the best times for wine tasting. If you believe that wine is a living organism, then it’s reasonable to think that it is affected by the moon just as much as other living things.
The focus on the moon and how it affects life on earth goes as far back as 1st century Roman naturalist, Pliny the Elder, who said the moon “replenishes the earth; when she approaches it, she fills all bodies, while, when she recedes, she empties them.”
The lunar calendar has been used for centuries by farmers to determine when to plant and harvest. Other professions, like gardeners, religious leaders, and fishermen use it in their work. The Old Farmer’s Almanac uses the same lunar calendar to recommend planting schedules. Professional astrologers use lunar cycles for scheduling major life events, such as weddings, funerals, opening businesses, etc…
Rudolf Steiner, who created the biodynamic farming system in the 1920s, saw vines linked to the four elements – earth, air, water, and fire. Each element is favored when the moon passes into the constellations associated with it, thereby determining when a wine tastes best.
This concept was later expanded upon by Maria Thun in the 1960s. She developed a calendar indicating the best days for tasting wine—a theory further refined by her son, who authored When Wine Tastes Best, which is now an app. Check it out!
The principle suggests that not only do plants respond to the positions of the moon, sun, and planets, but that we can enhance various aspects of winemaking by considering these celestial alignments. Many of the best winemakers in the world swear by it. For example:
Fire constellations direct energy towards fruit-bearing, making them prime harvesting days.
Earth constellations focus a plant’s energy on its roots, making these ideal days for pruning.
The lunar calendar also suggests that wine can taste different depending on the day you drink it. Here are the basics. What is your sign?
Fruit Days: Wines are at their most expressive, showcasing a full range of aromas and flavors. These are the best days for wine tastings or enjoying a special bottle. Fruit days are when the moon is in any of the Fire Signs, such as Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. Fruit days are the most optimal wine tasting days.
Flower Days: Wines highlight their delicate floral notes, making these days ideal for appreciating aromatic white wines and elegant reds. Flower days are when the moon is in any of the Air Signs, like Gemini (moi), Libra, and Aquarius. Flower days are recommended for enjoying aromatic wines, such as Viognier or Torrontes.
Leaf Days: Wines may exhibit more vegetal and herbaceous qualities, which can be intriguing but might not be ideal for your finest bottles. Leaf days are when the moon is in any of the Water Signs, such as Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. Leaf days are days when the plant is focused on producing chlorophyll, and are generally not recommended for enjoying wine.
Root Days: Wines often taste more subdued, with heightened tannins and earthy notes. Generally considered the least favourable for tasting. Root days are when the moon is in any of the Earth Signs, such as Capricorn, Taurus, and Virgo. If you follow the lunar calendar for wine tasting, root days are not good days to enjoy wine.
Node Days: Occurring when the moon crosses the Earth’s orbit, these are typically days when wines are more ‘closed’ and less expressive.
Does the moon really affect how good a bottled wine tastes? Is this wine tasting trick the reason why the same bottle sometimes doesn’t taste as good the next time you open it?
Some days you may taste a wine that you know well, and nothing really impacts you, while other days, one wine is better than the next. Instead of blaming it on the wine, think about it from a human perspective. We humans are susceptible to full moons, high pressure, and so on. Do the wines change based on the planets, moon, or alignment of the stars? Or is it that our perceptions may change?
For some beyond-logical reason, red wine seems to taste better on a “fruit day.” White aromatic wines really seem to sing on a “flower day.” So maybe if you’re anxious to pop open that vintage Bordeaux you’ve been waiting to open for years, you should consult the free When Wine Tastes Best app on your phone.
Is Today a Flower Day? Here is the link to the Lunar Calendar for all things – Lunar calendar for today – live in the rhythm of nature
Cheers,
Michael
michael@michaelpour.com