How to Pair Your Favorite Cannabis Strains with Wine

If you are someone who enjoys smoking cannabis and sipping from your favorite glass of vino, you will be happy to learn that wine-weed pairings are now a thing. That’s right - if you walk into one of the reputable San Francisco dispensaries and ask the shop keep to help you find a strain that compliments your preferred red, white or rose wine, he/she will be able to point you in the right direction. By ‘direction’, we mean the shelf upon which the flowering plant sits, accompanied by tincture bottles, medical marijuana products and general smoking paraphernalia.

The Likeness of Cannabis and Wine

The next time you prepare to spark up a joint, consider pouring yourself a glass of wine, too. Similar in the sense that they are both chosen for recreational enjoyment, wine and weed actually have more in common than you might know. The conditions in which grape vines grow are not so different to where cannabis plants grow. Although they share similar regions and climates, the production rate for cannabis is significantly faster than wine. With that being said, is it really surprising that wine cultivators are seeking opportunities in the marijuana industry.

Pairing Marijuana and Wine - Flavor or Taste?

A trip to your local San Francisco dispensary will teach you a great deal about pairing marijuana and wine. You don’t have to possess a great deal of knowledge on terpene profiles to find a strain that brings out the flavor of Merlot, Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc, because a knowledgeable sales person will simplify the complexities associated with taste and flavor. Let’s break it down a little: ● Pairing Cannabis and Wine by Taste - What do you want to taste when you inhale a potent puff of smoke from a joint, pipe or vaporizer? Ask yourself the same question in regards to wine, too. Cannabis and wine taste profiles should be dissimilar. In fact, they should be opposite. Basically, if the cannabis strain is sour, you should select a sweet type of wine. ● Pairing Cannabis and Wine by Flavor - In addition to focusing on sensory perception, you ought to detect the flavors in each type of wine/cannabis strain. Pairing the two is a case of trial and error. Since the flavor components can react with one another to deliver a unique high, it’s up to you to decide what your taste buds crave. Alcohol, acid, fat, bitter, salt and sweet are the fundamental flavor profiles you must learn to balance. Think about participating in a cannabis and wine-pairing course to further develop your skills.

Recommended Red Wine Combinations

Whether you choose to pair a dessert wine with Purple Haze Sativa or a light red wine with Vanilla Kush indica, you are sure to notice the harmonization of each combo. Below, we highlight some approved red wine and weed pairings: ● Himalayan Gold and Sangiovese - This Italian red wine has an earthy flavor that is complemented by the lemony taste of Himalayan Gold, which is medicinally powerful for stimulating the appetite. You may also substitute this Nepalese variety for Church OG. ● Berry OG/Golden Goat and Cabernet Sauvignon - Notice the peppery taste of Cabernet Sauvignon by taking a toke of one of these two recommended strains, both of which are hybrid with a sweet flavor. ● Zinfandel + Strawberry Haze or Blueberry: Berry flavors and aromas work well with red Zinfandel. This is a very good social mix, thanks to the uplifting effects created by combining the two.

Recommended White Wine Combinations

Generally, dry whites tend to pair well with Pineapple Express Hybrid, Lemon Haze Sativa and Super Silver Haze Sativa. Opt for Tahoe OG Indica to bring out the flavor of sweet white wine or sample Green Crack Sativa with sparkling white wines. Alternatively, give the following tempting combos a go: ● Girl Scout Cookies (GSC) and Moscato - Inhale the musky scent of this popular dessert wine, before sipping, swallowing and inhaling the cotton candy-like flavor of heavy-bodies GSC. ● Agent Orange/Lemon Haze and Chardonnay - Citrus-flavored cannabis strains will leave your mouth tasting pleasant, without knocking you off your feet. Chardonnay is typically quite generous with its alcohol content, making these fruity strains the perfect match. ● Amnesia Haze and Sauvignon Blanc - White peach, green apple, lime and passion fruit flavors combine to give Sauvignon Blanc its tropical touch. Pair it with a fragrant bud like Amnesia Haze, which has a spicy, hash-type taste.

Making Your Own Weed-Infused Wine

Why not use the buds you buy at a San Francisco dispensary to make a cannabis-infused wine? An ancient hobby, marijuana-wine infusion is accomplished by means of a mulling process, which involves fortifying the “cannawine” with dry herbs. Drinking infused liquids ensures a more intense, longer-lasting high. Make sure you stock up on the essentials to accomplish the task, such as your cannabis trim, a decent bottle of wine and spices to flavor, like nutmeg, cardamom, cloves and cinnamon. It’s important to remember however, never to drive or operate any machinery after consuming alcohol, and always use cannabis responsibly. What are your favorite cannabis and wine pairings? Leave us a comment in the section below.