The terpenes that link wine and weed.
Terpenes are the aroma compounds that give both cannabis and wine their nose. Learn the eight that matter most in Sonoma and Napa, what they smell like, and where you meet them in the glass and in the flower.
Caryophyllene
Black pepper, warm spice, clove
Peppery and spicy, and the one terpene that also binds the body's cannabinoid receptors. It is the bridge to Sonoma's peppery reds.
Cultivars & wines TerpeneMyrcene
Earthy, musky, ripe red fruit, clove
The most common cannabis terpene, soft and grounding, with a musky red-fruit note it shares with mangoes, hops, and earthy Pinot.
Cultivars & wines TerpeneLimonene
Bright citrus, lemon, orange peel
Zesty citrus-rind aroma, the same compound that makes a fresh peel smell alive. It maps straight onto crisp whites and sparkling.
Cultivars & wines TerpenePinene
Fresh pine, rosemary, forest floor
Sharp evergreen and herb, the smell of a pine forest after rain. It echoes the green, herbaceous edge of cool-climate whites.
Cultivars & wines TerpeneLinalool
Lavender, floral, soft spice
The perfumed lavender note, calming and floral. It finds its match in aromatic whites and violet-scented reds.
Cultivars & wines TerpeneTerpinolene
Fruity, herbal, fresh pine
Complex and uplifting, fruity and herbal with a piney lift. It rhymes with zippy, aromatic whites.
Cultivars & wines TerpeneHumulene
Hops, earthy, dry wood
The hoppy, woody note shared with craft beer and fine tobacco. It underlines earthy, structured reds.
Cultivars & wines TerpeneOcimene
Sweet, herbal, tropical
Sweet and herbaceous with a tropical top note. It lifts fruit-forward reds and floral whites alike.
Cultivars & wines TerpeneBisabolol
Chamomile, soft floral, faint honey
Gentle and floral, the soothing note of chamomile. A quiet, calming terpene that softens a blend.
Cultivars & wines TerpeneTerpineol
Lilac, pine, clove, a hint of citrus
Floral and piney with a faint smoky edge, often riding alongside pinene. Soft and relaxing.
Cultivars & wines TerpeneNerolidol
Fresh bark, jasmine, apple, citrus
Woody and floral at once, like tree bark and orchard fruit. An earthy, sweet, relaxing note.
Cultivars & wines TerpeneGeraniol
Rose, geranium, sweet peach
The rose note, floral and sweet, also found in geraniums and lemongrass.
Cultivars & wines TerpeneEucalyptol
Eucalyptus, mint, cool camphor
Cooling and crisp, the menthol note, also called cineole. Bright and clearing.
Cultivars & wines TerpeneCamphene
Damp earth, fir needles, musky pine
Earthy and piney with a damp-forest edge, easily mistaken for myrcene.
Cultivars & wines TerpeneValencene
Sweet orange, grapefruit, fresh citrus
Bright, juicy citrus named for Valencia oranges. Uplifting and sweet.
Cultivars & wines TerpeneDelta-3-Carene
Cypress, cedar, sweet pine, lemon
Sweet and piney with a resinous cedar edge. Sharp and foresty.
Cultivars & wines TerpeneGuaiol
Pine, rose, faint smoke
An unusual terpene, solid at room temperature, woody and piney with a soft floral edge.
Cultivars & wines TerpeneFenchol
Basil, camphor, lemony herb
Herbal and slightly camphorous, the basil note. Earthy and savory.
Cultivars & winesFrequently asked
An aroma compound that gives cannabis and wine their smell and flavor. Different terpenes mean a different nose.
No. Terpenes shape aroma and flavor, not intoxication. Cannabinoids like THC do that.
The same terpenes appear in wine, which is why a cannabis cultivar and a wine varietal can share a scent.
Cannabis has many, but a handful dominate the nose. We cover the eight that matter most in wine country.
Yes. Our Sip-and-Sniff pairs wine and cannabis by terpene, side by side.