Mellow Merlot Recipe: Cannabis Infused Wine Plays Off Grape Ape’s Tasting Profile

Merlot is the most popular grape planted in the Bordeaux region right before Cabernet Sauvignon. It produces a very juicy, fruity, soft and medium bodied red wine that is very versatile when it comes to pairing with food. The fruit profiles in this wine can include blackberries, cherries, plums and blueberries. Merlots also possess the flavor profiles of spice, black pepper, and cocoa.

So what strain did I pick to pair with this wine? Grape Ape of course! The strain fits in perfectly with the flavor profiles creating a deeper fruity flavor and earthen tones. This drink pairs perfectly with red meats, pork, chicken, salmon, scallops, mushroom based dishes, charred or grilled style meats, salads, prawns and pasta.

Grape Ape is the perfect indica that can help combat anxiety, insomnia, pain, migraines, nausea, headaches, depression, chronic pain and stress relief. Enjoy with a nice dinner after a long day or curl up by the fire with a loved one for a relaxing night. Enjoy!

Mise en place:

1/2 gram decarboxylated cannabis oil
1 tablespoon Everclear or vodka
1 bottle of Merlot
1 small canning mason jar
1 decanter

Directions:

Step 1: Decarboxylize: Preheat your oven to 220 degrees F. Take a baking sheet and add a ramekin to the center. Very carefully squeeze the cannabis oil into the ramekin making sure that it is evenly disbursed. Place the baking sheet into the oven uncovered and heat for 25 minutes. Pull the baking sheet from the oven, and let it cool completely. Be very careful when removing it from the pan.

Step 2: Add the cannabis oil to the small canning jar and pour the Everclear or vodka over it to make a small tincture. You can use a small silicon spatula to remove the cannabis oil. Let this mixture sit until the cannabis oil fully dissolves into the alcohol. The alcohol will take on a golden huge when dissolved. It is best to leave this mixture to sit overnight.

Step 3: After the cannabis oil has fully dissolved into the alcohol of your choice, give it a gentle stir.

Step 4: Add the cannabis infused tablespoon of alcohol to the decanter.

Step 5: Uncork a bottle of your favorite Merlot. Add this to the decanter.

Step 6: Gently stir until the cannabis oil tincture if fully incorporated into the Merlot and serve.

Step 7: Enjoy responsibly! Mixing alcohol with cannabis causes the “cross faded” effect as alcohol increases the effects of cannabis. Therefore it is very important to be sure to manage your dosage appropriately with what you can handle.

Wine Dosage:

If the gram of kief tests at 50 percent THC, fifty percent of 1,000mg would be 500mg. So if you added 1/2 gram worth of kief into the total recipe at 50% THC, it would contain 250mg total. A bottle of wine contains about six glasses. Therefore each glass of wine would contain 41.7mg. Sub the number of your THC percentage and do the math to figure out your dosing. If you want a smaller dose, cut the cannabis oil down to a smaller portion or serve smaller glasses of wine.

Strain Suggestions:

I would recommend strains that possess grape, berry, or fruity terpenes and flavonoids. The following would be ideal if you didn’t have Grape Ape: Juicy Fruit, Grape Crush, Big Bud Blueberry, Grape Kush, or Blackberry. If you cannot find these strains don’t panic, just follow your nose and taste buds to finds strains that would complement the dish.