REVIEW: Revive Organics Harlequin Barbera Wine

One of the fascinating developments in the world of cannabis has been the transformation of marijuana into a legitimate fine dining experience. All around the state — especially in the Bay Area — experimental chefs are holding cannabis cuisine pop-up dinners featuring marijuana-infused appetizers, entrees and desserts. We’ve come a long way from the skeevy house party pot cookie.

This begs the question: What beverage do you pair with marijuana ceviche, kief-dusted summer salads and pork chops brined in a cannabis glaze? Given the similarity between the cannabis and hop flowers, a dank IPA seems like a natural fit. Rebel mixologists are already creating marijuana-infused cocktails, but if your palate craves medicine in the form of a robust red wine, you were out of luck — until now.

A Barbera-wine-based tincture, Revive Organics Harlequin is a plum-colored potable that packs both 14.8 percent ABV and 200 mg of CBD and THC. It comes in a corked, 500 ml bottle ($65), with a label that looks normal enough to stock on a supermarket shelf. The label divides those 200 mgs into four servings of five ounces each, but if you’re a lightweight you could stretch it a lot further.

Harlequin isn’t the best wine I’ve ever tasted and the combination between the bitterness of the grapes and the herbaceous qualities of the cannabis concentrates is a little overwhelming. Still, it’s drinkable, fun and better than many of the wines sold at supermarkets.