Wine and Weed Pairings

Any sommelier worth their wine key and bow tie (they wear those, right?) can list off the most delectable food pairings to complement any variety of wine. Give them a crisp Sauvignon Blanc or a velvety Malbec and they’ll be able to pick a plate for you right off the tops of their heads. 

But what about pairing wine and weed? The complex, delicate combinations of aromas and flavors that have enraptured wine connoisseurs for thousands of years can be complemented by the complex, aromatic combinations of terpenes in cannabis flowers. While you won’t be able to enjoy the same ambiance of a vineyard tasting room while also loading up a fresh bowl (legally), why not amuse your palate in the comfort of your own home? If you’re looking for a relaxing evening of matching tannins and terpenes, grab your wine key, your favorite glass piece, a bow tie (possibly?) and try out one of these flavorful pairings.

Pairs well with: Apple Sauce Kush

One of the most popular varieties of white wine, Chardonnay’s round, sweet, fruity, and harmonious flavors are easily disrupted by heavy, strong, acidic flavors. When it comes to pairing Chardonnay, you want something that’s equally fruity, rich, and mild. That’s why a strain like Apple Sauce Kush pairs nicely with a chilled Chardonnay.

Apple Sauce Kush’s rich, sweet, and crisp apple flavor with a mild touch of earthy citrus at the end is the perfect compliment for the lighter taste of Chardonnay. Plus, the strain’s potent, uplifting cerebral effects and relaxing body high are great for an end-of-the-day wind down. 

Pairs well with: Super Lemon Haze

Where Chardonnay is on the rounder and milder side of the white wines, Sauvignon Blanc is on the crisper, dryer, and more herbaceous end. In other words, Chardonnay’s all about the fruit trees, Sauvignon Blanc leans more towards those garden herbs. The flavor’s sweet lime zest is accented with an herbal kick of crisp bell pepper, spicy jalapeno, or grassy basil. With white wines in general, like compliments like. That’s where Super Lemon Haze’s strong citrus-forward flavor bordered by a spicy, flowery edge comes into play. A mellow but uplifting strain, these two are a perfect pair for a summer afternoon.  

Pairs well with: Juicy Fruit

With something as crisp, light, and celebratory as sparkling white wine, it’s important to have a strain that won’t contrast in any way. That’s why Juicy Fruit is a perfect complement to whatever you’re toasting with your cold flute of bubbly. Juicy Fruit’s smooth, creamy fruit flavor only adds to the crisp sparkle of your wine and gives a little mood lift to compliment any celebration.  

Pairs well with: Strawberry Cough

A black grape varietal, Pinot Noir is one of France’s oldest grape varieties (and among the most expensive). The wine is known for its dryness, high acidity, medium body, and silky tannins. Complex, juicy red fruit flavors like cherry and raspberry can be accented by the earthiness of mushrooms or the smooth brush of vanilla. 

Thus, an equally sweet, red fruit flavor pairs well, which is why Strawberry Cough is our recommended strain pairing. Light, flavorful, and sweet with a sharp Haze edge that pairs well with the dry bite, this pairing adds a little sweetness to the Pinot Noir’s silky bite. The strain’s head-centric effects are perfect to fuel dinner party conversations with like-minded friends.  

Pairs well with: Blueberry

A French varietal that took off in Argentina, Malbecs are described like certain reality show stars on the E! network: big, bold, rich, spicy, and full-bodied. These wines are known for their medium to high tannin content as well as the complex taste dominated by dark fruit flavors. Black fruits like Blackberries and plums mix with blue fruit notes like blueberries and figs. Smoky, spicy, and even leathery accents round out the experience. Keeping this in mind, a strain like Blueberry makes a perfect compliment. The pungent, sugary, unmistakable taste of Blueberry fits right at home with the rest of the Malbec flavor family and goes great when you’re ending an evening meal with any rich, chocolatey dessert.    

Pairs well with: Girl Scout Cookies

To a certain generation, Merlot will forever be known as the wine that Paul Giammati yelled about in Sideways. If you haven’t seen that movie, Merlot is the wine you usually get at weddings when you answer “red” to the question “red or white?” 

Merlot’s sweet, juicy fruits, mild tannins, low acidity, smooth body, and pleasant finish are what make it a middle-of-the-road wine that pairs with nearly everything. That’s why the minty, chocolatey flavor of Girl Scout Cookies makes an excellent addition. The energetic strain will power you through the rest of the wedding, graduation, or other widely attended event.   

Pairs well with: Lavender Haze

Cabernet Sauvignon is the other “red” option at weddings, although it has some subtle but important differences from Merlot. While Merlot has a smooth body and mild tannins, Cabernet Sauvignon’s body is fuller and richer, with firm tannins that make their presence known in the finish. Robust currant flavors mingle with a complex potpourri of cedar, oak, vanilla, tobacco, and black pepper. With all these spices making their presence known, why not complete the perfumey flavors with some Lavender Haze. The aromatic, floral taste of Lavender Haze adds a little extra to the herbs and spices of Cabernet Sauvignon without ever clashing. Lavender Haze’s initial relaxing effects followed by a mood boost makes it a great pairing to escape that mid-party lull in any social event. 

Pairs well with: Sour Diesel

Made with California grapes, Zinfandels are one of the few wines considered “American.” Zinfandels contain very little sugar or calories, making them a lighter wine. However, they also have high levels of acidity. This makes them excellent for pairing with fattier and gamier meats from quail to lamb. They can also handle spicy sauces like curry.

Zinfandel’s taste profile is both spicy and fruity, with prominent notes of blueberry, cinnamon, and strawberry. Given the strain’s more daring complimentary choices, the peppery, spicy taste of Sour Diesel makes a fantastic mix. Only a Zinfandel can match Sour Diesel’s unique high-octane flavor, and this lighter wine pairs perfectly with Sour Diesel’s energetic punch. 

Whether you’re out at a social event, hosting a dinner party, or just enjoying a bottle and a bowl, the combinations of wine and weed are endless. Just remember, mixing any alcohol and cannabis can lead to drowsiness, so consume with caution (and responsibility) if you’re out and about. You’d hate to miss the food pairing since both wine and weed can make you pretty hungry.

What are your favorite wine and weed pairings? Dish with us in the comments!

Photo Credit: YGolub (license)