Raise a glass of the good stuff folks, it’s National Wine Day. Celebrated each year on May 25th, this day of days invites us to imbibe and reflect on this ancient, fermented truth serum and bearer of the wrath of hangovers the world over.
Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and patron saint of pleasure, was born from the love affair between Zeus and a mortal princess. Dionysus is credited not only with inventing wine, but inspiring our human obsession with it.
Poured from a box or bottle into glass, horn, paper cup and open mouth, wine, above all other libations suggests the link between dirt and divinity. And, just as people have looked to wine for solace and celebration, they have sought answers from the stars.
In wine there is truth and in the zodiac there is a mirro. Read on and drink up to learn more about what wine aligns with your zodiac sign.
The following is not a list of drinking recommendations for each sign, but rather the wine that embodies the characteristics of each. So you might love Sauvignon Blanc, Becky but your heart is Moscato.
ARIES (March 21 – April 19)
Zinfandel
Aries is the first sign in the zodiac and the domestication of the Zinfandel grape, or Vitis vinifera, predates the discovery of winemaking and both wine and sign are renowned for boldness and spice. Italians began referring to Zinfandel as “Primitivo,” a nod to the tendency of the grape to ripen before others. People the world over refer to Aries as “fiery” a nod to their tendency to fly into a rage quickly and without warning or apology.
TAURUS (April 20 – May 20)
Pinot noir
Pinot Noir is made from thin-skinned grapes and Taureans for all their projected toughness are easily wounded by careless words and bad manners. Pinot Noir and bulls en masse display notes of barnyard, misplaced loyalty, ripe cherry, coffee, emotional withholding, dark berries, aged grudges, and forest floor. Both pair well with fowl, foraged mushrooms, and Capricorns.
GEMINI (May 21 – June 20)
Vinho verde
Cheap and widely available, this Portuguese table wine tastes like a mouthful of summer with notes of fresh-cut grass, afternoon delights, and a strong finish of effervescent gossip. You can chug a godless amount of Vinho Verde without feeling drunk, just as a Gemini can speak an astounding amount of words without taking a breath or reaching a coherent point.
CANCER (June 21 – July 22)
Malbec
The Malbec grape, like the Cancer contingent, is challenging. Sensitive to bad weather, frost, cinematic violence, and indifference, both require relentless warmth and saintly patience in order to flourish and mature. Prone to mildewing, Malbec on the vine and Cancer of the soul, both do well when paired with something, or someone, hearty.
LEO (July 23 – August 22)
Champagne
According to wine lore, the Benedictine monk Dom Pérignon discovered champagne on August 4, exclaiming to his Christ bros, “Come quickly, I am drinking the stars.” Because Leo is ruled by the sun, itself a star, champagne is the natural nectar of lions. While daddy Dom did not invent the Champagne method of wine production his name has become synonymous with luxury and celebration, two hallmarks of the Leo disposition.
VIRGO (August 23 – September 22)
Cabernet sauvignon
By the numbers, Virgo is the most common zodiac sign and Cabernet sauvignon is the most commonly planted and oft-ordered red. Incredibly resistant, the wine and the sign flourish in spite, and often because, of difficult climates, literal or emotional. Both Virgos and Cabs bring to mind the smell of old books and dead leaves, the feel of worn leather, and top notes of pencil eraser and superiority.
LIBRA (September 23 – October 22)
Chardonnay
Libra is the sign of partnership and mediocre chardonnay is the unofficial wine of wedding receptions. It looks great next to a floral centerpiece, won’t stain white dresses, and will cause sleep before it causes a scene. Chardonnay and to a certain degree Pinot Grigio, are, like the average Libra inoffensive and people-pleasing. When aged in oak, chardonnay is renowned for its rich, buttery flavor. Likewise, Libras are known for their desire to be rich and their tendency to rely on flattery to get ahead.
SCORPIO (October 23 – November 21)
Sacramental wine
Scorpio loves a ritual so whether it’s the Catholic transubstantiation of supermarket Shiraz into blood or a bacchanal where drunken, frenzied, fully naked women tear wild animals limb from limb, you can bet Scorpio is pouring and playing.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 – December 21)
Rosé
I once heard Sagittarius singer Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes defend his midday purchase of a case of rosé to a skeptical liquor store employee by explaining, “Rosé is the most rock n’ roll thing you can drink because you can drink it all day long.”
Preach.
Bon vivants and merry makers, archers are known to chug heartily from the cup of life or bottle of wine. Naturally optimistic, Sagittarians see things sunny side up and it was rosé to the rescue when California wildfires and the subsequent smoke compromised the ability of vineyards to make their usual vintages.
CAPRICORN (December 22 – January 19)
Sauvignon blanc
The word Sauvignon derives from the French “sauvage,” or wild. While Capricorns are by and large an industrious bunch, they harbor a hedonistic streak and are most comfortable in the nude and in nature, which coincidentally, is how Sauvignon Blanc is best enjoyed.
AQUARIUS (January 20 – February 18)
Merlot
Aquarians, like Merlot wine, get a bad rep but are mostly just misunderstood. Water bearers catch heat for being emotionally unavailable and relating more to mushroom spores than their fellow man while Merlot takes flack for being mass-produced for basic palates, generally without nuance and the bane of Paul Giamatti’s character Miles in the 2004 film, “Sideways.”
PISCES (February 19 – March 20)
Riesling
Just like Pisces, Riesling grapes are deeply affected by the conditions in which they are grown. The terroir of the wine and the tendencies of the sign both reflect their respective roots. Riesling wine is highly acidic with flavors of green apple, slate, and spice flavors. Pisces is highly intuitive with notes of moral ambiguity and cherry-flavored lubricant. Despite their reputation, as a “lightweight” wine, not all rieslings are sweet, and likewise, it ain’t all haikus and bubble baths with Pisces people; they make for formidable ex-girlfriends and prolific serial killers.
Astrology 101: Your guide to the star
- The 12 zodiac signs
- What are the astrology houses
- Here’s what each planet represents
- Sun, moon and rising signs: Get to know your Big 3
Astrologer Reda Wigle researches and irreverently reports back on planetary configurations and their effect on each zodiac sign. Her horoscopes integrate history, poetry, pop culture, and personal experience. To book a birth chart reading, contact her via her website.
