Sun Moon Rising “Taurus”

Finger LAkes, New York |  NV

Ok, I’m just going to say it, this might be my favorite wine to write about in any newsletter because this one really gets me.

If you’ve ever been to one of my tastings, you already know there’s a strong chance I’ll veer slightly off course and start talking about astrology in the same breath as biodynamics. To me, they live in the same world: cycles, energy, timing, and a deep respect for forces we don’t fully control but absolutely feel.

So, when I came across Sun Moon Rising, a small project out of the Finger Lakes operated by the young up-and-comming winemaker Kate Webb, I had one of those moments where I thought “this wine gets me”. A full lineup of amazing wines inspired by all 12 zodiac signs, built around thoughtful farming, low-intervention winemaking, and female owned and operated? I’m in.

May is firmly in Taurus territory, and this wine is all Taurus in personality: charismatic, grounded, and stubbornly delicious. It’s one of those perfect warm-season reds (something the Finger Lakes does exceptionally well), so don’t be afraid to give it a slight chill as the weather starts to turn. This is also a non-vintage wine where vintages are blended, like in Champagne, to create the perfect harmony of fruit and earth. These wines tap into that intersection I’m always chasing where farming meets feeling. Biodynamics teaches us to work with natural rhythms, and astrology reminds us those rhythms extend far beyond the vineyard. Coincidence? Maybe. I prefer to think it’s alignment!        

Pair this chillable red with a fresh spring spinach salad with blackberries and feta, or alongside a char-grilled filet of salmon and asparagus.