Grower Stories #104: Tracey Mason

Tia Moskalenko, author of the AskGrowers blog, brings a unique blend of content to her readers. She is known for conducting insightful interviews with key figures in the cannabis industry, including brand representatives, manufacturers, and experts. In addition to her interview skills, Tia has a keen focus on CBD. She expertly curates product selections and reviews, offering her readers detailed insights into the various effects and benefits of CBD. Tia's ability to combine in-depth interviews with comprehensive CBD analysis makes her a valuable asset to the cannabis community, offering a well-rounded perspective on the industry.

Published

Jun 29 2021

Updated

Sep 07 2023

Interviews

304

6 min

Learn All About Cannabis-Infused Wines From House of Saka

Tracey Mason shared the story about House of Saka with AskGrowers. We were excited to hear all about the premium cannabis wines and learn more about the process of production. The beverages are special and unique, and the company that makes some of the highest quality beverages on the market is exceptional. House of Saka successfully manages to bring ancient tradition right into the modern age. #growerstories

I have successfully created innovative products in the wine and spirits space for over 25 years. My prior experience includes serving as Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer for CannaCraft, SVP of Marketing & Innovation at Purple Wine + Spirits, EVP of Global Marketing for Goelet Wine Estates, VP of Global Innovation at Treasury Wine Estates, Director of Commercial Innovation at Diageo, and VP of Sales and Marketing at Epic Wines. I have a BA in Politics from St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, with further graduate study at Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, CT.

Tia (AskGrowers) : How did you start House of Saka? Tell us your origin story!

Tracey Mason : House of Saka was founded to bring the ancient tradition of cannabis-infused wine into the modern age.

Throughout ancient cultures and civilizations, wine has been infused with cannabis for use in holy sacraments and rites of passage. One such civilization was the Saka, an ancient tribe of female warriors my co-founder, Cynthia Salarizadeh, researched at the University of Pennsylvania while studying the Middle East and her Persian ancestry.

So, the idea behind House of Saka as an infused wine company was hers, but she needed a wine industry veteran to help get it off the ground. Mutual colleagues introduced us in 2018, and I joined as Co-Founder and CEO shortly after that. Together, we've worked to bring cannabis-infused wines into the modern era while addressing the void in luxury positioned, female-focused brands on the market.

We spent the bulk of 2019 in full-scale research and development to flesh out our supply chain and perfect our formulations. I am pleased to say that Saka Vinfusions™ was officially launched in late 2019, offering ultra-premium, micro-dosed alternatives to alcohol that satisfy even the most discerning of experienced and canna-curious consumers alike.

Tia : How does your brand differ from others on the market?

Tracey : We are the first and only infused beverages made from alcohol-removed wines from the renowned Napa Valley. In the sea of infused seltzers hitting the market, this is an important distinction. Our product is definitively adult, uber-sophisticated, and the only actual bridge between alcohol and cannabis occasions.

We are also female/LGBT-founded and run. One of the few – if any – cannabis beverage companies led by beverage executives with a combined 75+ years of experience developing, marketing, and selling adult beverages. And that experience shows in our products hailed by consumers and critics alike as the highest quality beverages on the market.

Tia : Why have you decided to go with non-alcoholic beverages?

Tracey : After nearly three decades in the wine and spirits space, I was looking for a healthier alternative to alcohol that still allowed for the ritual of opening a bottle of wine and pouring a glass to relax and unwind at the end of the day.

Our products play perfectly in the need states and occasions that wine does, just without the harmful effects of alcohol. We're a fraction of the calories, zero impact on your liver, and, best of all, no hangover!

Tia : What's the size of your vineyards, and how many people are working there to help you?

Tracey : We work with select vineyards all over Napa Valley, compromising several hundred acres. We are a small team, though – only five full-time employees – but we make it work because we're passionate and work extremely hard.

Tia : Can you tell us the whole process of making your beverages? Do you have any specific approaches in making those that would differ from others in the industry?

Tracey : Our products are the only infused beverages on the market that start with high-end Napa Valley wines, traditionally fermented and aged in stainless steel and oak.

Post-fermentation, we gently remove the alcohol and replace it with a proprietary THC: CBD formulation that's both self-homogenizing and water-soluble, making the formulation highly bio-available. So, unlike traditional edibles in which the effects can take more than an hour to be felt, our effects are felt within five to fifteen minutes, similar to alcohol. This consistent and highly metered effect gives the consumer immediate feedback on how to self-dose.

Tia : Do you plan to produce any new products soon? If yes, can you name them?

Tracey : Saka SPARK Mimosa, our new single-serve, alcohol-removed sparkling Chardonnay, will be released next week, and it is game-changing.

It features premium, alcohol-removed sparkling Chardonnay bolstered by Mimosa strain-specific live resin and the natural essence of orange blossom and nectarine. It's an elegant and refreshing twist on a classic Mimosa and genuinely delicious.

Tia : Who usually approves the tastes of your beverages?

Tracey : Our internal team formulates the products with final approval from Cynthia and myself.

Tia : What's your best-selling product? Why do you think it is so?

Tracey : Saka PINK has been our best seller to date because it's the only luxury positioned beverage on the market and our baby.

Tia : What's your consumption routine? What are the top three products that you're using?

Tracey : Saka SPARK Mimosa for fun, silly time with friends and family, Saka PINK for dinner and special occasion, Mary's Medicinals CBDN for a great night's sleep.

Tia : Your top strain to smoke if you do consume cannabis? Why?

Tracey : I have asthma. I do not smoke.

Tia : If you could smoke with anyone in this world, dead or alive, who would that be and why?

Tracey : If I could CONSUME with anyone in the world, it would be probably Mary, Jesus' mother. I'd like to know what really happened there.

Tia : Are there any cannabis brands in your state (or in the USA) you appreciate and follow? Name them.

Tracey : Care By Design, Bad Mommy Edibles, Mary's Medicinals, Papa and Barkley.

Tia : What do you think will happen with the cannabis industry with time?

Tracey : It will take time, but cannabis will eventually be a legal but highly regulated intoxicant in the US as it should be. It's all about education.

You can follow House of Saka at:

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LinkedIn

Thank you so much, House of Saka team, for taking the time to do the interview. To learn more about them, head on over to their website.

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