Held from November 1-3, 2024, at the iconic La Rural fairgrounds in Buenos Aires, Expo Cannabis Argentina has become Latin America’s premier cannabis event. Aimed at educating the public and creating a marketplace for cannabis products, the expo showcases a broad spectrum of cannabis innovations, from medicinal applications to cultivation technology and lifestyle products. Founded with a mission to destigmatise cannabis and highlight its myriad applications, it has grown exponentially over the years and now features hundreds of exhibitors, workshops, and lectures aimed at audiences from diverse backgrounds. This year’s event welcomed thousands of patrons ranging from cannabis enthusiasts to those curious about its medicinal benefits.

At its core, the expo serves as an educational platform, reflecting Argentina’s admirably progressive approach to cannabis. The event attracts notable brands in cannabis cultivation and wellness, as well as public figures and activists advocating for responsible cannabis use. Through its immersive activities, the expo offers an inclusive space to explore cannabis’s roles in wellness, agriculture, and personal care. For their 2024 event, the organisers put together a line-up that included industry giants such as Grow Tech, renowned for cutting-edge cultivation technology, and Bioled which showcased advanced lighting systems, essential for maximising yield and potency in cannabis cultivation.

RAW, known globally for its cannabis accessories, brought a collection of eco-friendly papers and smoking tools, adding a sustainable angle to the event. Sagrada Madre, a brand blending cannabis with spiritual wellness, offered products designed to promote mindfulness and relaxation. In an exciting intersection between cannabis and Argentina’s celebrated wine culture, the highlight of Expo Cannabis was undoubtedly Terpenica Sparkling Wine, a new product from Bodega Piedras 202. This Mendoza-based winery, known for its innovative approach to winemaking, has created Argentina’s first sparkling wine infused with cannabis terpenes.

Derived from the terpenes of ‘cannabis sativa’, Terpenica captures the aromatic and sensory properties of cannabis without any psychoactive effects. This innovative wine introduces an aromatic complexity that elevates the wine’s profile, merging Mendoza’s winemaking tradition with the evolving cannabis culture. The wine’s bouquet has notes of pine, citrus, and herbal undertones typical of cannabis, making it a fascinating experience for the senses and an example of Argentina’s commitment to exploring unique agricultural products. Bodega Piedras 202, the winery behind Terpenica, has deep roots in Mendoza’s fertile vineyards and has established itself as a trailblazer by experimenting with non-traditional additives like cannabis terpenes.

Through Terpenica, they aim to broaden the perception of Argentine wine by connecting it to the growing interest in cannabis. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in Argentina’s wine and cannabis industries, combining expertise from both fields to offer a unique product that speaks to the innovation within Argentine agriculture. In fact, their booth at the event was highly sought after, fielding hundreds of patrons eager to taste and experience this viticultural innovation. Thursday Food was at the event and brings you scenes in addition to introducing the Terpenica line of THC/CBD-free Sparkling Wines by Bodega Piedras 202:

Terpenica Gipsy Haze Brut is a young and fresh sparkling wine made, using the Charmat method, with Chardonnay and Viognier grapes in Lujan de cuyo. The wine has a green colour with a delicate turbidity, offering small and abundant bubbles that form an intense and long-lasting crown. It expresses intense aromas of fruit, citrus and pine and also has an intense flavour in the mouth where it is a sweet, fruity and citrus haze, mixing hints of fruits such as mango and lime with hints of incense.

Terpenica Critical Jack Brut, also made using Chardonnay and Viognier grapes in Lujan de Cuyo,is green in colour with a delicate turbidity and small and abundant bubbles forming an intense and long-lasting crown. On the nose it is citrus, woody, herbal and spicy. In the mouth it is intense with a citrus aroma and lemon-like flavour that has hints of pine as well as a clear floral background.

Terpenica Blackberry Brut is made using the same grape combination and method of production by Bodega Piedras 202 in Lujuan de Cuyo, Mendoza. It bears the same physical characteristics, a green colour with a delicate turbidity along with small and abundant bubbles, but offers earthy, sweet and fruity aromas on the nose. On the palate, its penetrating aroma and flavour is reminiscent of Afghan haggard with sweet, earthy notes and hints of forest fruits and berries.

Terpenica High Level Brut was the preferred tasting choice Expo Cannabis with patrons enjoying copious amounts refills throughout each day. Using their signature grape combination of Chardonnay and Viognier, the bodega created a wine that expressed fruity and spicy aromas. In the mouth, this wine is fruity and sweet, having a flavour reminiscent of ripe fruits with spicy touches. Its green colour and delicate turbidity, along with its small and abundant bubbles that form an intense and long-lasting crown reaffirms the consistent quality throughout the entire Terpenica range

Expo Cannabis serves as more than a trade show; it is a cultural event that educates and promotes the responsible use of cannabis, especially its therapeutic and wellness applications. The event’s family-friendly atmosphere, complete with interactive gardening for kids and a chill-out zone, further showcased its community-oriented approach. Terpenica Sparkling Wine epitomises the spirit of Expo Cannabis by marrying tradition with innovation, which for wine enthusiasts, opens up a new category that blends the nuanced world of wine aromas with the essence of cannabis, offering an enriched sensory experience.

The future of Argentine wine may well see more of these unique blends, reflecting a national landscape where traditional and new agricultural products coexist. As the world’s perspective on cannabis shifts, Expo Cannabis Argentina will continue to serve as a pioneering platform, with Terpenica Sparkling Wine standing as a testament to Argentina’s forward-thinking approach to both wine and cannabis. The stag has definitely been set for a thriving relationship between these industries, showing Argentina’s commitment to exploring and celebrating its natural resources through creative and responsible means. Salud!