Celebrate National Wine Day with A Luxurious Pairing
This year, National Wine Day falls right around the corner on May 25th. And while one of mankind’s oldest and most popular beverages doesn’t really need a special day to inspire people to imbibe, we love a reason to celebrate! All vino experts would agree that chocolate is a beautiful complement to nearly any vintage. So to help you craft a luxurious experience, we’ve created the ultimate guide to pairing wine with Nové Luxury Cannabis Chocolates.
A Holiday for Every Form of Wine
For all you wine and chocolate fans, and for those who want an excuse to throw a party, mark your calendars! In our research, we found that there are more than twenty special days throughout the year to drum up interest in vintages of all hues, aromas, and tastes from all around the world. Some of these holidays include:
- Feb. 18: National Drink Wine Day (don’t have to tell us twice!)
- April 17: International Malbec Day
- May 9: National Moscato Day
- May 27: National Chardonnay Day
- June 11: National Rosé Day
- Aug. 18: National Pinot Noir Day
- Oct. 15: National Champagne Day
- Nov. 7: International Merlot Day
- Dec. 5: National Cabernet Day
So many of these varieties deliciously pair with Nové Cannabis Chocolates, the new, premium edible from Medically Correct, one of Colorado’s oldest and most reputable cannabis companies. Trust us, these pairings are going to forever change your happy hour ritual — it might even be your new favorite way to elevate the everyday! Let’s dive in.
How To Safely Consume Cannabis and Alcohol
Let’s be honest: mixing cannabis and alcohol can be problematic, and some of us may have had a negative experience. But consumed responsibly, the tastes and effects of both substances can create a sort of harmony. The trick is to always start low and go slow.
Remember, each person’s tolerance and body chemistry is different, so it’s important to know your personal limits and abide by them for the best experience. Thankfully, you can be confident in our lab testing and know that a square of Nové cannabis chocolate is accurately dosed with 10mg of THC, bringing on effects in 30 minutes to 2 hours. That said, dose for your desired effect, cutting the piece into halves or even quarters. Though our chocolates are filled, the creamy centers are stable enough to slice through without making a mess.
Our suggestion is to pair quarter-pieces (2.5mg THC) with 2-ounce pours of wine. That way, if you try four combinations, you’ve only consumed the standard adult dose of 10mg THC, along with a single glass of wine. Try placing a small bit of chocolate in your mouth, letting it melt a little, then taking a sip. Follow with another sip, which you’ll likely find to be similar to the first, but interestingly different — milder, more rounded, and less sweet as the wine takes over. Cleanse your palette with a starchy cracker or a cooling drink of cucumber water, then sample your next pairing! It’s all about the experience, elevating your mood and perception without overdoing it.
The Benefits and Delights of Cannabis, Chocolate, and Wine
Cannabis, chocolate, and wine have a common element that lends to the distinctive, interesting qualities of different varieties. All three contain terpenes that create distinctive aroma and taste and provide therapeutic effects. All are believed to offer multiple health benefits, such as pain, anxiety, and insomnia relief. And, of course, they’re good at stimulating conversation, sociability, and may even act as aphrodisiacs.
Here’s a pro tip from our friends who love wine: from grocery store bargain brands to the private trove of vineyard owners, drink reds a little cooler than you’d think and whites a little warmer. When you see instructions to serve at “room temperature,” think 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The taste will be richer, more full, and strike more subtle notes. The strong reds, sweet whites, and rich ports will stand up better and show their subtle undertones even against the powerful flavors of chocolate, fruits, and sugars. Be sure to drink the bottle within the first 48-hours of uncorking!
Note that not all wines and chocolates taste good together, and not all pairings are intuitive. If you take a swallow of a beautiful, dry red wine while you have a chunk of fine, dark chocolate in your mouth, the terpenes may clash, and the chocolate will taste bitter and sour — and not in a good way.
To you sommeliers and aspiring connoisseurs, the trick with wine is to find what you like and go with it. Let no one dissuade you from your preferences. Just like your tolerance, your flavor preferences are unique, too. If one kind of wine tastes undesirable to you with a certain Nové flavor, make note, move forward, and try something else. Undoubtedly, there’s something in these pairing suggestions that will appeal to you!
How To Pair Wine with Nové Luxury Cannabis Chocolates
Nové chocolates come in six different flavors, which like different kinds of wines, create new worlds of possibilities, pairings, and taste experiments. You’ll discover many delicious combinations and maybe fall in love with the pungent flash of dark chocolate against a full-bodied red. Maybe you’ll become inspired to gather your wine and cannabis-loving friends for a tasting party, comparing notes and creating interesting, experiential menus.
Here are a few of our favorite suggestions to get you started!
Raspberry Bramble with Full-Bodied Reds
Strong reds like Zinfandels, Cabernet Sauvignons, and Merlots go well with dark chocolates, like our 60% cacao Raspberry Bramble bar. These wines are full-bodied and can stand up to the bitterness of dark chocolate while still offering enough fruit flavors to complement the sweetness.
A couple of lovely mid-range Californian Merlots include the 2016 Pahlmeyer Merlot from the Napa Valley region; and the award-winning 2018 Merlot by Arietta Hudson Vineyards. Note that either of these wines should pair well with our other dark chocolate flavor, Island Coconut.
Island Coconut with Fruit Elements
Pair our tropical, dark chocolate confection with the 2018 Three Palms Vineyards Merlot by Duckhorn Vineyards, another Napa Valley award winner. Having received the “wine of the year” award by Wine Spectator and ranked in the top 100 worldwide by Wine and Spirits, we trust this vineyard to provide supreme quality.
Alternatively, pair this flavor with their Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from the Rutherford wine-growing region. Truly, any of their oak-aged Cabernets will beautifully pair with this Nové flavor, having fruit-forward elements and firm structure.
Need a value-driven option for anyone’s dinner table? Visit Clos Pegase vineyard’s website; we love their 2018 Merlot and warm, well-balanced 2019 Syrah.
Glacier Mint with Rich Ports
Conventional wisdom is that your dessert wine should be sweeter than the dessert itself, which in this case, is our Glacier Mint cannabis-infused chocolate. Pair with a fortified, sweet red wine, like those from Niepoort, an authentic, Portugal-based vineyard grown in the world’s oldest region, the Douro Valley.
If you’d rather not import, check out your local shops; we highly recommend choosing a Tawny Port over all other varieties, as the raspberry, cinnamon, and fig notes will pair beautifully.
Honey Peanut Butter with White Ports
Honey, peanut butter, and milk chocolate are all strong, sweet flavors, and again, will complement a port dessert wine perfectly. Consider a white port, having flavors of apricot, baked apples, and roasted nuts. The warmth of this type of vintage will match the earthiness of our peanut butter filling.
Other sweet wines to try include Madeira, Marsala, and Amontillado/Oloroso Sherry. Remember, these are “sipping wines.” Don’t go too heavy on this to avoid tomorrow morning’s hangover!
Cafe Cappuccino with Bright Acidity
White chocolate is made of cocoa butter, sugar, and milk. It melts in your mouth with sweet touches of cream and honey, a delightful balance with Nové’s cappuccino filling. Look for bright white and rose wines that can blend with the sweetness of the candy.
A sparkling asti spumante (think Italian champagne) complements the white chocolate flavors, and who doesn’t love a glass of bubbly? You might also like this mid-level 2019 Riesling Spätlese Norheimer Kirschheck by Donnhoff , or this lovely 2005 French sauterne by Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey. Alternatively, consider a beautiful Pinot Noir or Beaujolais; all wines low in tannins will be a great choice.
Sea Salt Caramel with Sweet Flavors
Like many of our sweeter Nové truffles, the Sea Salt Caramel flavor will pair best with a glass of strong, sweet wine. Get the party started and pair this with a trendy, fizzy red wine like Otello Lambrusco, grown in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Though available in dry, semi-sweet, or sweet versions, we actually suggest going against the norm and pairing this bar with a dry variety. Lambrusco is one dry red that many people enjoy with sweets because it’s less likely to be overpowered.
Moscato d’Asti and Asti Spumante are often paired with caramel-centric dishes, and Tawny Port, which has a delightful, nutty finish is extremely good with caramel — and chocolate, for that matter! Ice wines are rare since they are made of grapes that froze on the vine, but they’re exceptionally sweet, made of quality grapes, and should go well with this or any other Nové flavor.
Wine and Cannabis Chocolates in Colorado
Thanks for reading our thoughts and suggestions; but more importantly, it’s time for you to take a journey of the senses! Did you know that Colorado is home to not only a rapidly growing cannabis industry but wine cultivation as well? Our sunny state’s soil and weather create an interesting take on world-class wines, and touring some of our favorite vineyards in Palisade and beyond is highly recommended!
Remember to take your favorite Nové flavor (or two or three) on your road trip! Until then, enjoy celebrating National Wine Day with the help of these prized vintages and a trip to your local dispensary.