20-05-2025
Jalapeno wine set to be the drink of the summer - with fans on TikTok calling it a 'game changer'
Cometh the summer, cometh one new drink that we can't get enough of - and this year's viral beverage of choice is a spicy one.
Jalapeno wine - chilled white wine served with slices of hot green pepper - isn't strictly it's certainly gained a huge spike in popularity thanks to fans sharing their love of it on TikTok.
While wine purists might have a hard time dropping slices of a pepper - often frozen - that instantly challenge a bottle's delicate flavours with a kick of heat, those looking to add a twist to their favourite vino are impressed with how it tastes.
One called it a 'game-changer', while another admitted they may never imbibe a glass of Sauvignon Blanc without an icy spice hit again.
Texan Grace Ramadan shared on TikTok: 'I fear I will never be able to drink my sauvy b the same way again', adding 'it's the 'drink of the summer, because it was so easy'.
It's also inexpensive, requiring a normal bottle of white wine, with one or two jalapeno peppers, which generally cost less than £1.
Recent years have seen a variety of drinks enjoy the summer spotlight, with retro Italian favourite Aperol Spritz hugely popular in recent years.
Elsewhere, another yesteryear drink, orange wine - where the grape skins ferment with the wine to give an amber colour - also had a moment and continues to be popular as a seasonal tipple.
However, while most summer cocktails require a little effort - see the sorbet prosecco floats of 2021 - sneaking a few slices of hot pepper from the freezer to your glass is super easy.
Drinkers can make the flavour more intense by adding the jalapeno first, then pouring chilled wine over it, say experts.
British TikToker @Traveltothefridge said the trend was ideal for people who wanted a less-hassle take on the spicy margarita cocktail trend, which blends mango and lime juice, with tequila, triple sec and a chili syrup.
The influencer, who paired the pepper with a Brancott Estate Sauvignon Blanc, wrote: 'This hack is an absolute game changer. I've always been a spicy marg gal but i'm now officially a spicy wine gal!'
The iced slices ensure that the chili isn't overpowering, say fans of jalapeno wine, suggesting that it offers a warm heat, rather than something that burns.
However, those who prefer a red-hot hit have tried other variations, including where the pepper has been fermented in a bottle of wine - saying it makes for a much hotter proposition.
And some people remove the seeds to dampen down the fire a little.
Earlier this month it was revealed that Britain is being ' flooded' with fake versions of popular wines, according to the 'Sherlock Holmes' of vino.
Maureen Downey told The Wine Blast Podcast that organised criminals are manufacturing 'high-end counterfeits' of well-known labels sold in British supermarkets and off-licences such as Yellow Tail.
The Australian brand distributes 13.5million cases of wine across the world every year, including Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and is distinguishable by its black glass bottles wrapped in colourful labels with kangaroo art work.
The expert said the bottles are being replicated 'to a professional degree' on an 'unprecedented degree' which has never been seen before.
Ms Downey said: 'An Asian organised crime gang has partnered with a European organised wine gang to flood the market with counterfeit Yellow Tail.'
In order to make such accurate copies, she claimed the gangs are spending half a million dollars to get the same digital printer used by the brands producers.
@traveltothefridge
Thanks to the TikTok girlies… this hack is an absolute game changer. I've always been a spicy marg gal but i'm not officially a spicy wine gal! 🥂🌶️ #jalapenowine #savvyb #summertrend #girlsnight #tiktokhack
♬ original sound - Traveltothefridge | London ✨
Wine counterfeiters previously focused on make replicas of old and rare bottles as they were the most profitable.
However, Ms Downey said they have moved away from this because it requires sourcing period glass, ageing the labels and making sure the cork is ok.
'Now, they just have it all made to the same specs that the producers use. It's a different game. It's much more money. The average consumer is pretty screwed,' she added.
The wine aficionado said those who drink Yellow Tail regularly would be able to tell the difference in the same way a Coca-Cola fan would know if they had been given Pepsi.
It may be harder for people who are trying it for the first time or only drink it occasionally.
Some other ways of checking include inspecting the bottle for spelling mistakes, poor print quality, watermarks and missing information on labels.
