Cropped-for-dot-com-Chinese-zodiac-info-final-dragon.jpg
The Chinese Wine Zodiac.
(Image credit: Annabelle Sing / Decanter)

What do Baron Eric de Rothschild, Angelo Gaja and Michel Chapoutier all have in common – apart from being behind some of the world’s most influential wine estates?

They are all born in the Year of the Dragon – the symbol of the new year in the Chinese lunar calendar, which starts this weekend.

To celebrate the Chinese New Year 2024, we researched the birth years of some of the world’s well-known writers, critics, producers and sommeliers, including some of our Chairs in the 2024 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA), to find out where they sit in the Chinese zodiac.

It’s easy to see your animal sign in the Chinese zodiac. Just follow the chart below and find your birth year.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Rat19001912192419361948196019721984199620082020
Ox19011913192519371949196119731985199720092021
Tiger19021914192619381950196219741986199820102022
Rabbit19031915192719391951196319751987199920112023
Dragon19041916192819401952196419761988200020122024
Snake19051917192919411953196519771989200120132025
Horse19061918193019421954196619781990200220142026
Sheep19071919193119431955196719791991200320152027
Monkey19081920193219441956196819801992200420162028
Rooster19091921193319451957196919811993200520172029
Dog19101922193419461958197019821994200620182030
Boar19111923193519471959197119831995200720192031

Data source: www.whats-your-sign.com

Then, look at the list below to see which wine world celebrity shares your Chinese zodiac sign.

Rat

Marquis Nicolò Incisa della Rocchetta, Sassicaia – 1936

Paul Draper, Ridge Vineyards – 1936

Brian Croser, Tapanappa – 1948

Aurelio Montes, Montes – 1948

Michael Brajkovich MW, Kumeu River – 1960

Olivier Bernard, Domaine de Chevalier – 1960

Rosa Kruger, Decanter 2022 Hall of Fame winner – 1960

Adi Badenhorst, A. A. Badenhorst Family Wines – 1972

Stefan Neumann MS, DWWA 2024 Regional Chair for Switzerland – 1984

Michaela Morris, DWWA 2024 Regional Chair for Piedmont – 1972

Ox

Bruno Ceretto, Ceretto – 1937

Danie de Wet, De Wetshof Estate – 1949

Kevin Judd, Greywacke – 1961

Richard Mayson, DWWA 2024 Regional Chair for Port & Madeira – 1961

Tim Atkin MW, Decanter contributing editor – 1961

Tiger

James Halliday, Australian wine writer/critic – 1938

Piero Antinori, Antinori – 1938

Jean-François Coche-Dury, Domaine Coche-Dury – 1950

Stephen Henschke, Henschke – 1950

Anthony Hamilton-Russell, Hamilton Russell Vineyards – 1962

Dominique Vrigneau, DWWA 2024 Regional Chair for Beaujolais, Southwest and Rest of France – 1962

Amanda Barnes, DWWA 2024 Regional Chair for Chile – 1986

Rabbit

Hugh Johnson OBE, Decanter wine writer – 1939

Nicolás Catena Zapata, Bodega Catena Zapata – 1939

Bruce Tyrrell, Tyrrell’s – 1951

Robert Hill-Smith, Yalumba – 1951

Olivier Humbrecht, Domaine Zind-Humbrecht – 1963

Charles Curtis MW, DWWA 2024 Regional Chair for Burgundy & Champagne – 1963

Dragon

Angelo Gaja, Gaja – 1940

Baron Eric de Rothschild, Château Lafite Rothschild – 1940

Denis Horgan, Leeuwin Estate – 1940

Michel Chapoutier, M Chapoutier – 1964

Dirk Niepoort, Niepoort – 1964

Peter Richards MW, Wine writer and broadcaster – 1976

Michael Garner, DWWA 2024 Regional Chair for Northern Italy – 1952

Richard Baudains, DWWA 2024 Regional Chair for Veneto – 1952

Snake

Miguel A. Torres, Torres – 1941

Corinne Mentzelopoulos, Château Margaux – 1953

Didier Cuvelier, Château Léoville Poyferré – 1953

Matt Walls, DWWA 2024 Regional Chair for the Rhône – 1977

Horse

Leonardo Frescobaldi, Marchesi Frescobaldi – 1942

Huon Hooke, DWWA 2024 Regional Co-Chair for Australia – 1954

Jean-Michel Deiss, Domaine Marcel Deiss – 1954

Michael Hill Smith AM MW, DWWA 2024 Co-Chair – 1954

Cameron Douglas MS, DWWA 2024 Regional Chair for New Zealand – 1966

Justin Howard-Sneyd MW, DWWA 2024 Regional Chair for Languedoc-Roussillon – 1966

Sarah Ahmed, DWWA 2024 Regional Chair for Portugal – 1966

Simon Field MW, DWWA 2024 Regional Chair for UK – 1966

Sheep

David Peppercorn MW, Wine critic – 1931

Christophe Salin, Domaines Barons de Rothschild – 1955

Doug Shafer, Shafer Vineyards – 1955

Iain Riggs, director/consultant of Brokenwood – 1955

Matthew Jukes, writer – 1967

Fiona McDonald, DWWA 2024 Regional Chair for South Africa – 1967

Chng Poh Tiong, DWWA 2024 Regional Chair for Asia – 1955

Monkey

Lalou Bize-Leroy, Domaine Leroy – 1932

Daniel Cathiard, Château Smith-Haut Lafitte – 1944

Andrew Jefford, Decanter contributing editor – 1956

Hubert de Boüard de Laforest, Château Angélus – 1956

Susana Balbo, Susana Balbo Wines – 1956

Rod Smith MW, DWWA 2024 Regional Chair for Provence – 1968

Rooster

Peter Gago, Penfolds – 1957

Ronan Sayburn MS, DWWA 2024 Co-Chair – 1969

Ferran Centelles, DWWA 2024 Regional Chair for Spain – 1981

LU Yang MS, first Chinese Master Sommelier – 1981

Dog

Wolfgang Blass, Wolf Blass – 1934

Christophe Roumier, Domaine Georges Roumier – 1958

Professor Li Demei, Winemaker and consultant – 1970

Thierry Meyer, DWWA 2024 Regional Chair for Alsace – 1970

Pig

Jim Budd, DWWA 2024 Regional Chair for Loire – 1947

Michel Rolland, International wine consultant – 1947

Robert Parker, International wine critic – 1947

Stephen Brook, Decanter contributing editor – 1947

Eduardo Chadwick, Seña – 1959

Marc Kent, Boekenhoutskloof – 1971

Terry Kandylis, DWWA 2024 Regional Chair for Greece & Cyprus – 1983

Andy Howard, DWWA 2024 Regional Chair for Central Italy – 1959

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Sylvia Wu
Sylvia Wu
Editor, Decanter China & Regional Editor - Asia and Northern & Eastern Europe
Sylvia Wu is Decanter's Regional Editor for Asia and Northern & Eastern Europe. She also works as the Editor of Decanter China platforms, overseeing Decanter’s China-focused editorial operation.