Toast the new year with a wine for your astrology sign

Aries (March 21-April 19)

2020 Winzer Krems Grüner Veltliner 13, Austria (LCBO 375022 $13.95)

You are the child of the zodiac. You’re excitable, passionate and always on the hunt for that shiny thing. Face it, you crave excitement and energy. And this Grüner Veltliner offers that immediate satisfaction you crave with its high-voltage hit of lemon-lime zip and light tickle of effervescence. It’s not very complex, but you’ll like its straightforward intensity that tastes smooth, polished and starbright. Score: 90

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

2019 Luccarelli Negroamaro Puglia IGT, Italy (LCBO 380972 $8.95)

You are composed and dependable, down to earth and solid — much like this honest red from Italy. Consistently good vintage to vintage, bottle to bottle, Luccarelli Negroamaro delivers a firm rush of blackberry-cocoa-coffee flavour that’s well-balanced and dry. It’s a bottle you can rely on to deliver great value for money. And that’s an attribute you can certainly appreciate. Score: 92

Gemini (May 21-June 21)

2019 Cave Spring Riesling, VQA Niagara Peninsula (Winery and LCBO 234583 $13.95 till Jan. 2, regular $15.95)

Smart, expressive and adaptable are words that describe both Geminis and this local Riesling. In the glass, the wine shines bright. It erupts on the palate with lime zest and poached pear laced with cool steel and lip-smacking salinity. And much like you, Gemini, this medium-dry wine suits all sorts of situations — whether it’s a standup, cocktail-style occasion or a sit-down, bring-it-on turkey feast. Score: 92

Cancer (June 22-July 22)

2015 Ferox Traditional Method Brut Nature, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake (Winery $79.80)

Cancer, you are sensual, complex and mysterious. And you’re capable of evoking deep emotion and sentimentality in others — just like this sparkling Chardonnay-Pinot Noir blend from Ontario. Its delicate fragrance of roasted almond and baked apples, and its intense entry hold a discreet power. Flaky butter pastry, baked apple, marzipan, orange zest, a touch of violet, white pepper and more create layers of intrigue. It’s long, bone dry and marvellous. Score: 95

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

2019 Bar Dog Cabernet Sauvignon, California (LCBO 10882 $17.95)

Generous, bold and charismatic, you dazzle those you encounter with relative ease. And so can this bottle of Californian Cabernet with its velvety appeal, so you’re a perfect match. Each glassful teems with plush flavours of black cherry and blackcurrant liqueur with underpinnings of dark chocolate, café latte and praline that linger. Total crowd-pleaser for the sign that’s often the life of the party. Score: 91

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

2018 Villa Annaberta Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore DOC, Veneto, Italy (LCBO 378091 $15.45 till Jan. 2, regular $18.95)

You are notoriously logical and practical. You’re also a clean freak. So, this wine is for you. You see, ripasso is a wine style that repasses a simple Valpolicella over semidried Amarone pressings to add richness and complexity without adding much cost. Done well, which is the case here, the wine tastes clean and refreshing, with a certain depth and character. This wine swirls with ripe red cherry, grilled meat…