10… 9… 8… 7… let weed and bubbles carry you away on NYE.
It’s New Year’s Eve! And we’re guessing your party planning is already in full swing. Traditionally, the most important element of the evening has been the sparkling wine for a midnight toast. Bringing cannabis into the mix this year is the perfect way to celebrate everything the legalization movement has achieved in 2022, and the delectable pairing virtually guarantees a feel-good start to 2023.
How to go about pairing bud with your bubbly? As with any wine pairing, you’ll want to know how the cannabis’s tasting notes will complement those of your sparkling wine. You’ll also want to consider the effects of the strain you choose — steer clear of anything that might cause you to nod off before midnight!
While everyone’s preferences will vary slightly, read on for four pairing ideas to end the year on a high note.
If you’re drinking cava
Wine to try:Can Macià Bohigas Cava Brut Penedes
Strain to try:Outer Space
A style of sparkling wine that has made great gains in popularity of late, cava is Spain’s signature sparkler. This particular iteration from Can Macià reveals crisp apple and sweet pear notes upon popping the cork. For a full range of holiday fruit flavors, pair with a cherry- and berry-flavored sativa like Outer Space. Its cheery, chatty aftereffects are an excellent added bonus.
If you’re drinking sparkling rosé
Wine to try:Schramsberg Brut Rosé
Strain to try:Tangerine Dream
Looking to sip outside the box this year? Switch out the classic golden bubbles for something a little pinker: sparkling rosé. This particular bottling is a bit spendy at $50, but Argyle’s Brut Rosé has also been served at White House dinners by two different presidential administrations, so you know it’s worth the splurge. Pair it with an equally highly regarded hybrid like the appetizing, award-winning Tangerine Dream.
If you’re drinking brut champagne
Wine to try: NV Mumm Napa Brut Prestige
Strain to try:Cactus
On the dry end of the sparkling wine spectrum, a brut classification indicates that your bottle of sparkling wine contains hardly any residual sugar. This lets the grapes’ naturally occurring flavor notes shine through. Pair with a relaxed yet chatty indica like Cactus; if big parties aren’t always your cup of tea, an anxiety-quelling strain like this one is a great way to go.
If you’re drinking demi-sec sparkling
Wine to try:Veuve Clicquot Demi-Sec
Strain to try:Laughing Buddha
Toward the other end of sparkling wine’s sweetness spectrum lie demi-sec Champagnes, which maintain more residual sugar than their drier brut cousins. To offset this sweetness, match a demi-sec wine with the herbal, earthy aromas and giggly, feel-good effects of a sativa like Laughing Buddha. What better way to go into the new year than with a smile on your face?
Image Sources: Argyle Winery, Total Wine, Bevmo!, KL Wines, Michael Mina Wine Club
