And all we have to comfort us is the wine…! The Chinese New Year is fast approaching. In the west we would call that the New Moon in Aquarius. We often think of the Winter Solstice as the low ebb of the year because it is the shortest day, but that is the first day of Winter, not the low ebb of the year. The New Moon in Aquarius holds that distinction and as the Chinese New Year it is one of the most celebrated festivals in the world.
In an agricultural economy, like wine country, you sense the importance of that time, because only after that date does the new Spring seem to infuse the plants and the seeds. There is a saying among farmers that is often criticized by scientists, “An early Spring”. It is a way of saying that the energy is infusing the land early in the year.
It is a matter of lunations; counting the phases of the moon that elapsed since the Winter Solstice? The Chinese New Year is always the New Moon in Aquarius. How early is the Spring? It depends on when in the month the New Moon happens. In 2011 the New Moon is on February 2nd, at 13 degrees Aquarius, in the middle of the sign, so this is going to be a normal Spring, neither early nor late.
It may be a very electrical Spring, thunder and lightning and maybe a few tremors to shake the seeds and sprouts out of their slumber. But what do you expect with the advent of the year of the Metal Rabbit. In the Chinese tradition there isn’t a Man in the Moon, there is a Rabbit in the Moon. It is a sign of fertility and luck, and a harbinger of Spring.
With Jupiter entering Aries (The 12 year cycle of Jupiter is the foundation of the Chinese Animal years) we have symbolically entered the year of Spring, when everything begins fresh and new with vitality and warmth of a distinctly hormonal kind. What does this mean for the grapes? An exciting, at times tumultuous year requiring skill and experience in both the vineyard and the winery, resulting in wines fit for royalty because they are exciting, but still warm the heart and sooth the soul. Here’s to Vintage 2011!
Ralph & Lahni de Amicis are authors of the Amicis Winery Guide Books and Smart Phone Apps and owners of Amicis Tours which does both group and private excursions. They are authors of over twenty books on health, design, business and travel. Their iPhone Apps, The Napa Valley Wine Tour, and The Sonoma Winery Tour are a tour guides approach to these beautiful area, complete with 1000’s of photos and insights. Their articles and products can be found on the sites http://www.amicistours.com and http://www.spaceandtime.com. Their Apps can be found at http://www.sutromedia.com/apps.html
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