One of the finest representations of California's booming Zinfandel market, The JD Hurley selection from the Martin Ranch in Santa Clara, California, is a wine for any dinner table or patio barbecue. Heavy fruit notes with gorgeous blueberry and loganberry extraction exude throughout the length of each sip of this wine. Hints of cola and even a little fresh ground coffee, abound, followed by a little black pepper and a slight note of resin from an old college doobie, left on the kitchen table. Long forgotten are the drier, more subtle fruit notes of the versions of this wine from Croatia and Italy. Not to discount them - they are outstanding - just very different than ours. California Zinfandel is a big hitter and can reach over 15% in alcohol, no problem. We have lots of sunshine. Delectable notes of chewy black fruit and forest floor, a little sandalwood and wonderful acidity render this grape monster a classic and with all this sunshine, I am led to consider another fine product grown under our warm and giving climate: Blackberry Soda Cannabis.
Pairing a fine cannabis with this beautiful wine was an easy choice. The Blackberry Soda strain lifts enticing, sensual and deep, aromatic blue and blackberry notes up your nose when you first get a whiff. As you are enjoying the fruity sensation, little highlights of coffee and spice are to follow and the berry and cherry flavors from its' genetics, run deep. Hints of earth and a faint note of ancient, RC Soda drying in a picnic can in the sun as you hold a nuggie up to your olfactory. Blackberry Soda shares its roots in both Indica (80%) and Sativa (20%). It is a cross between the rare, Plushberry and Blackberry Kush strains and harbors some seriously deep genetics. THC in this dark and purple weed runs between 20-25% and is delicious. This is a dark, rich production just as the Martin Ranch Zinfandel wine. Fruity and long in depth with hints of grandma's ripe berry pie and yesterday's coffee grounds, this cannabis is stellar.
In pairing this two California treats, my food recommendation would, certainly be, smoky BBQ. Whether you are a vegan or omnivore, some grilled veggies or BBQ spareribs would be a fine accompaniment after a pipe full of Blackberry Soda and big glass of Martin Ranch Zinfandel.
You can find Martin Ranch at Vine and Barrel Wines in Petaluma, California and Organicann, just north, in Santa Rosa where there is a steady supply of the lovely, Blackberry Soda Strain.
