Cannabis Terroir and Appellations are as important to the cannabis industry as they are to viticulture. When growing outdoor, sun-grown cannabis, terroir is key and appellation is the edge.
From Wiki
Terroir is a French term used to describe the environmental factors that affect a crop’s phenotype, including unique environment contexts, farming practices and a crop’s specific growth habitat. Collectively, these contextual characteristics are said to have a character; terroir also refers to this character.
Some artisanal crops for which terroir is studied include wine, cider, coffee, tobacco, chocolate, chili peppers, hops, agave (for making tequila and mezcal), tomatoes, heritage wheat, maple syrup, tea, and cannabis.
Cannabis Terroir defined by the Cannabis Horticultural Association (CHA)
“…[T]he set of special characteristics that the geography, geology and climate of a certain place, interacting with the plant’s genetics, express in terpene profile and cannabinoid percentages….that is cannabis terroir.”
Cannabis Appellations
One group in the Sonoma Valley which is working on the Cannabis Appellations project with the State of California is the Sonoma Valley Cannabis Enthusiasts a non-profit based committed to promoting Sonoma Valley’s distinctive and unique cannabis.
State of California Cannabis Appellations Program
From the State of California’s website: An appellation of origin is a protected designation that identifies the geographical origin of a product and how that product was produced. CDFA’s Cannabis Appellations Program will promote regional cannabis goods and local businesses, prevent the misrepresentation of a cannabis good’s origin, and support consumer confidence about a cannabis good’s origin and characteristics.
How Do Terroir and Appellations Intersect?
The idea is simple: the unique soil and environment conditions which exist in a cannabis growing region create cannabis varietals which are unique to those conditions. When an Appellation is associated to that same cannabis growing region, then, Craft and Artisanal Cannabis Grows can label their products as grown in that Appellation (think Emerald Triangle or Sonoma Valley)
As cannabis consumers become more sophisticated about how their cannabis is grown and produced, they’ll begin to pay more attention to the Appellation where the cannabis is grown (especially sun grown flower versus indoor grown).
The ability for craft growers to differentiate via appellations is a significant marketing advantage, just like it is for wine makers and vineyards.
MountainTop Grow Tour
The Happy Travelers Tours MountainTop Grow Tour takes Guests up to the 2,700 feet about sea level summit of a local Sonoma Valley mountain to view 3 acres of cannabis.
In addition to viewing the largest permitted outdoor grow in Sonoma County, we’ll take in the amazing views from the Mountain Top!
Learn More About Cannabis and Terroir
Join Happy Travelers Tours on our MountainTop Grow Tour (aka Wine-and-Weed Tour) and learn all about cannabis terroir while getting up-close-and-personal with 1,200 cannabis plants!
Book your Tour today, email [email protected] or call 707-386-9859