By Luke Sumpter

Cannabis and wine both boast incredible diversity in their flavours and aromas, and impact the mind in (mostly) pleasant and desirable ways. That said, users need to exercise caution when pairing the two in the same drink. However, when consumed with care, canna-wine can serve up a rewarding experience. Below, find out more about this mix and how to make a batch at home.


Why Make Cannabis-Infused Wine?

Connoisseurship exists across a wide range of hobbies and interests, from cigars and coffee to cuisine and cars. Among these interests, both weed and wine are appreciated, scrutinised, and paired according to their unique attributes and the diversity of their respective categories. This likely comes as no surprise, as each bottle of wine and cannabis strain serves up a distinct experience, especially in terms of flavour and aroma.

While mixing weed and wine might seem bizarre at face value, the duo can open up an entire world of complementary pairings and diverse experiences. In what follows, check out the two main reasons for consuming marijuana-infused wine, before we delve into what to expect from the experience.

Cannabis infused wine

Weed and Wine: The Recipe for a Unique Buzz

If you’ve ever smoked a joint while leisurely sipping away at a glass of red or white, you’ll already have an idea of what weed and wine can offer when consumed in unison. Enjoyed separately, both substances elevate the mind, relax the body, and make for some fantastic conversation during social events. Together, the effects of both are amplified; the mellow, warming quality of wine and the stoning yet stimulating effects of cannabis go hand in hand. However, moderation—or a lack thereof—will make or break the experience. Those looking to imbibe weed and wine together should employ the utmost care. Doing so will ensure an enjoyable experience, whereas failing to do so can result in a highly unpleasant one.

Experiment With Different Pairings

The combined psychoactive effects of wine and weed aren’t the only benefit of pairing these two substances; it also serves up a flavour experience like no other.

In the world of viticulture (the study and cultivation of grape vines), winemaking, and wine tasting, terroir plays an important role. A French term, terroir encompasses all of the environmental factors that contribute to the final flavour, character, and overall “feel” of the wine. These factors include sunlight exposure and climate, the mineral and microbial composition of the soil, and the ripening speed of the grapes. The type of grapes used also has a large impact on the character of a bottle of wine, alongside post-harvest processes such as fermentation, yeast types, and ageing in toasted oak barrels. All of these variables influence the concentrations of aromatic and flavour compounds found in a bottle of wine, including tannins, esters, terpenes, aldehydes, and ketones.

With this in mind, terroir also plays a critical role in the final outcome of a given cannabis strain. Factors such as nutrient content of the soil, access to sunlight, as well as harvesting and processing techniques can dramatically impact the production and concentration of secondary metabolites like terpenes, esters, volatile sulphur compounds, and cannabinoids, which hold the key to the flavour, aroma, and potency of the cannabis experience. And just as the taste and aroma of a particular grape variety can vary depending on terroir and processing techniques, the same is true of cannabis plants.

So, why should you consider these factors when looking to whip up a batch of cannabis wine? Well, for the same reason that you carefully choose what strains to grow or what bottle of wine to pull from the shelf. There are literally endless possibilities when it comes to mixing and matching cannabis and wine. We’re talking much deeper than simply pairing an indica-dominant hybrid with a pinot noir. Take a deeper dive into the terroir and processing of certain buds and wines, and you’ll unlock the capacity to refine your experience right down to the last detail.

What to Expect From Cannabis-Infused Wine

Before we dive into a couple of cannabis wine recipes, it’s important to know what to expect when sipping on this flavourful drink. When consumed sensibly and in moderation, cannabis wine will exert a pleasant cerebral buzz paired with bodily relaxation. You may feel more creative, social, and thoughtful. The rich blend of terpenes and other tasty molecules will hit the taste buds with unbelievably rich and complex flavours. But be very careful not to get carried away.

The consumption of cannabis wine leaves very little room for error; you should always aim to drink too little as opposed to too much. For starters, orally administered cannabis produces a much more potent effect than inhaled weed. When smoked, THC and other compounds immediately enter the bloodstream through the alveoli of the lungs, where they are taken swiftly to the brain and trigger the cannabis high. The rapid onset and relatively short-lived nature of the effects allows users a larger degree of control over the cannabis experience and comes with a lower risk of greening out.

Conversely, edible cannabis takes much longer to take effect. Instead of immediately entering the bloodstream through the lungs, orally consumed THC first passes through the stomach and then the liver. In the liver, THC transforms into a metabolite called 11-hydroxy-THC, a potent molecule that produces a more intense and longer-lasting experience. For this reason, edibles have gained a notorious status for often plunging new users into a state of mind they’re not prepared for—adding alcohol to the mix further intensifies matters.

Mixing alcohol with cannabis, an act known as crossfading, amplifies the potency of the latter. Research shows that consuming cannabis while drinking significantly increases the presence of THC and 11-hydroxy-THC in the bloodstream. Therefore, users need to exercise extreme care when drinking cannabis wine. Go low and slow; take only a sip or two at a time and wait at least 30 minutes before proceeding to drink more. Eventually, you’ll figure out your sweet spot and work out how much you can drink to experience a desirable effect without tipping yourself over the edge.

How to Make Cannabis-Infused Wine

Now that you’re aware of why weed and wine pair well together, and how to consume it responsibly, it’s time to craft your own batch at home. Discover two easy methods of waking canna-wine below.

Method 1: Infusing Your Wine With a Weed Tea Bag

This method of making alcoholic weed wine is super simple. Gather the ingredients and equipment listed below before following the straightforward instructions.

Ingredients

  • 1 bottle (750ml) dry red or white wine (sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio, pinot noir, etc.)
  • 20–25g cannabis plant material (buds or trim)

Equipment

  • Baking tray
  • Baking paper
  • Cheesecloth and string
  • 1l mason jar

Directions

  1. Preheat your oven to 110°C and line a baking tray with baking paper. Grind up your cannabis into a coarse powder and spread it evenly across the baking paper. Decarboxylate your plant material for 30 minutes to activate the THC.
  2. Remove your cannabis from the oven and let it cool. Decant your wine into the mason jar.
  3. Place your cannabis onto a piece of cheesecloth. Wrap it up and use a piece of string to secure it.
  4. Submerge your weed tea bag in the mason jar and attach the lid.
  5. Store the container in the fridge for at least 24 hours before enjoying. During this time, the alcohol in the wine will extract the THC from your plant material. Once you’re ready to take a sip, you can remove the tea bag.
  6. Store red cannabis wine in a cool, dark place, and keep white cannabis wine in the refrigerator.
  7. Pour a glass, take things slow, and enjoy!

Method 2: Cannabis Mulled Wine

If you’re after something rich and belly-warming, check out this easy cannabis mulled wine recipe.

Ingredients

  • 1 bottle red wine
  • 28g decarbed ground trim
  • 4 cloves
  • 1 orange (sliced)
  • ¼ tsp. cardamom
  • ¼ tsp. nutmeg
  • ½ tsp. ground cinnamon

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Cheesecloth

Directions

  1. Place your pot on the stove and pour in your wine.
  2. Add your weed, spices, and sliced orange to the pot.
  3. Bring the mix to a light simmer and heat for 2 hours with the lid closed.
  4. Check the mix frequently and add more wine if the amount of liquid gets too low.
  5. Strain the mixture using the cheesecloth.
  6. Serve up warm, and enjoy!

How Do You Infuse Wine With CBD?

If you’d rather forgo THC and enjoy the effects of CBD weed wine instead, simply swap out the high-THC plant material for CBD-rich material. Alternatively, given the popularity and availability of CBD oil, you can even just add some drops to a glass or bottle and drink away! Just keep in mind that consuming CBD and alcohol at the same time can amplify the effects of alcohol and cause drowsiness. Take things slowly, just like you would with THC-infused weed wine.

Weed Wine: Your Ticket to a Sophisticated High

Canna-wine offers a whole new world of flavour, with novel effects to match. However, things can quickly take a turn for the worse if you over-imbibe. Treat this medley of terpenes, esters, cannabinoids, and flavonoids with respect, though, and you’ll have a memorable and unique experience.

Cookies settings

We are requesting your permission to use your data for the reasons stated below:

Functional cookies

Functional cookies help our website to function optimally and allow us to personalise certain features.

Preference cookies

Preference cookies allow us to remember information that influences the way our website looks, including your preferred language based on your region.

Analytical cookies

Analytical cookies give us insights into website traffic and customer behaviour, including how many people visit our site, how long they browse for, and which parts of our site they visit.

What are cookies?

Cookies are small pieces of data from a particular website that get stored on a user’s computer while they’re surfing the internet. Cookies have several different functions. Some of them track browser activity that enables businesses to deliver targeted advertisements. Other cookies serve to remember user login details to different websites to make jumping on social media, or other sites, a more fluid process. Because each cookie has its own unique ID, these pieces of data allow website owners to measure the unique traffic coming into their site.

Why do we use cookies?

Cookies come in handy when you visit our website. They ensure you stay logged in, that you can shop safely, and that the items you add to your cart stay there before you make a purchase. But cookies also help us. The data they provide allow us to improve our website and enable us to present you with targeted advertisements that are compatible with your interests.

What kind of cookies do we use?

Functional cookies

Functional cookies help our website to function optimally and allow us to personalise certain features.

Preference cookies

Preference cookies allow us to remember information that influences the way our website looks, including your preferred language based on your region.

Analytical cookies

Analytical cookies give us insights into website traffic and customer behaviour, including how many people visit our site, how long they browse for, and which parts of our site they visit.

How can I disable or delete cookies?

Not a fan of cookies? No worries. You can disable them (with the exception of necessary cookies) in your browser settings. However, blocking cookies may impact your browsing experience and prevent you from enjoying all of the technical features of our site.

Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: support@royalqueenseeds.com.

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: