Pairing Wine and Cannabis

Legalization of marijuana is now a reality in many areas around the world, and the trend is expected to continue. Cannabis is gradually leaving its illicit reputation behind as more people are discovering both the medical benefits and the recreational enjoyment that can come from it. One of the newest trends is pairing wine with refined strains of cannabis, and experimenting is bound to bring favorite combinations that are as varied as the people trying them.

When it comes to wine and cannabis pairing, both individual taste and tolerance levels are key factors in which ones end up the most pleasing. Some general guidelines include experimenting with different delivery systems, taking time to breathe in each scent and doing a bit of flavor research on both.

Delivery System and Aromas

The flavors of both wine and marijuana are subtle and nuanced, so the delivery system makes all the difference. Pairing wine with cannabis edibles can be enjoyable, but it doesn’t allow those flavors to be enjoyed in their purest form. Smoking joints or from glass pipes is an improvement, but some preliminary research shows that vaping cannabis along with sipping wine brings the best tasting experience. A good quality vaporizer is made to condense the flavors of any type of cannabis in their purest form, letting you taste a deeper range of flavors.

Most of the flavor of any cannabis strain comes from compounds known as terpenes, which determine different flavor profiles. Getting more familiar with terpenes will allow for more ability to determine which flavor profile to expect. The names of many cannabis strains include the names of various fruits, and these are good clues as to what kind of aroma notes to expect. When trying new strains to be purchased from a dispensary, it’s a good idea to ask for recommendations based on favorite fruity undertones of the wines being paired with cannabis.

The growth of the marijuana industry means more available cannabis experts, such as journalists and dispensary owners. There’s no better time to take advantage of their expertise. Many of them have published their findings as infographics or articles on websites dedicated to wine and cannabis pairing. As a general rule, many of them claim red wine goes best with strains of indica and white wine goes best with sativa strains. There’s also plenty of room to get specific and experiment further with the growing variety of marijuana strains paired with wine.

In conclusion, certain strains of cannabis go best with different wines, and pairing them is eye-opening as well as fun. Just as with food pairings, the senses of taste and smell are the most engaged when inhaling a strain of cannabis and tasting the wine that goes the best with it. A good deal of choosing pairings depends on personal preference, although the specific marijuana delivery system plays an important role as well.