How To Go About Pairing Wine & Weed

If you’re a regular wine drinker, you’ve probably figured out by now that the foods you pair with your wine result in dramatically different flavour profiles. The same can be said about pairing weed and wine.

Now one might think that the commonalities between cannabis and wine stop at the pleasurable buzz that each provides, but when you dig deeper, you’ll find that both develop their unique flavours and aromas from the terroir in which they are grown and even more so from the terpenes. Terpenes are the aromatic compounds within plants that determine these flavours and aromas.

A fine wine and a well grown craft cannabis strain will both present complex tastes that can range anywhere from earthy to spicy to acidic to bitter to sharp. By determining which variety of wine pairs well with a certain strain of cannabis, together you can create a perfect balance. So let’s have a closer look at pairing wine with cannabis.

There is certainly no right or wrong way of going about it but rather it comes down to your personal tastes, and the experimentation involved to determine what pairings you like is part of the enjoyment. Ultimately, you want your palate to be your guide.

There are two schools of thought when it comes to pairing the flavours and aromas of wine with those of cannabis. As with pairing wine with food, often the idea is to pair unlike flavours to create a pleasant balance. Think sweet and sour. The contrast created between the two can often produce a rich texture which compliments the complexity of both. A sparkling wine paired with a strong earthy flavoured kush creates a nice balance or a big, bold and spicy red can often offset comfortably with a fruity, energetic strain.

The other way of going about it, is to match the flavours and aromas. If a wine has a fruity rich flavour profile, a strong citrus-forward strain will likely pair well. Or a crisp, light wine would pair well with a smooth, sweet strain with floral notes. Going this route often makes it easier to add the right food into the foray as well.

Another thing to take into consideration is how ‘heavy’ your variety of wine and strain of cannabis is. If you pair a full bodied Cabernet Sauvignon with a high THC indica strain, you’re likely not going to be moving too far, too fast afterwards. Now that may be a great combo if feet up on the couch is your plan afterwards but if you have a night of socializing ahead, a lighter white wine paired with an uplifting sativa is the way to go.

Use your sense of taste and smell to help you determine which parings best suit your individual taste and enjoy the sensory experience as you navigate through the multitude of fragrances and flavours. With the vast selection of cannabis strains that craft growers are making available these days, there is no doubt that everyone can find a perfect match that suits their palate.