Even in ancient times, various authors recommended planning certain agricultural activities such as sowing, tilling and harvesting according to the lunar calendar and carrying them out at specific moon phases and planetary constellations. The waxing moon was associated with growth, the waning moon with pruning and harvesting. Wine harvested when the moon was waxing was considered less durable than wine harvested when the moon was waning.
The clergyman Johann Rasch (1540-1612) from Austria also deals with this topic in detail in his famous standard work "Weinbuch: Von Baw, Pfleg und Brauch des Weins". The Palatinate vineyard owner and viticultural historian Armand Emil Friedrich von Bassermann-Jordan (1872-1959) refers to the Württemberg vine regulations of 1614 in his standard work "Die Geschichte des Weinbaus" (The History of Viticulture), published in 1909. It explicitly recommends observing the phases of the moon in the vineyard according to ancient models. Among other things, "(new vines) should be planted three shoes high and at the right depth when the moon is waning". In Baden, according to the "Autumn and Vineyard Regulations 1764", pruning could only be carried out when the moon was waning.
Today, winegrowers who subscribe to this (not uncontroversial) theory regard observing the "correct" moon phases and positions as an important criterion for biodynamic viticulture. The anthroposophical basis for this comes from Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925). According to the followers, plants react differently to substances during the individual phases of the moon. Not only the phases of the moon (new moon to full moon), but also the position (near and far from the moon, as well as the background of the stars) and other planetary positions play a role. Based on a lunar calendar, there are suitable times or very specific days that are optimal for the various activities during winemaking and have a positive effect on the result.
This ranges from planting the vines to bottling and includes vineyard care such as pruning, soil care, fertilisation, pest control and grape harvesting, as well as technical measures in the cellar. However, there are no generally applicable recipes for this; the right measures at the right time must be tested individually. However, as there is no scientifically substantiated evidence, the method must be categorised as esoteric.
Further information
See also the keywords astrology, farmers' rules (farmers' calendar), winemaking customs, esotericism in winemaking, music in winemaking, toasts and quotes from famous personalities.
Moon phases: from Peace,love,happiness on Pixabay
Solar system: Comfreak on Pixabay
