24-05-2025
Why are drinkers putting jalapenos in their wine?
Wine drinkers are adding frozen jalapenos to their glasses of sauvignon blanc for an extra kick, according to Waitrose.
The supermarket, which has dubbed the unlikely pairing 'spicy sauvignon blanc', claimed its shoppers were copying a TikTok trend.
Videos of people combining sauvignon blanc with jalapenos have amassed more than 14 million views on the social media platform in recent months.
'This is your sign to freeze jalapenos to put in your next glass of sauvy b', said the caption to one video, while another said, 'I fear I will never be able to drink my sauvy b the same way again'.
Waitrose said searches on its online shopping site for 'white wine', 'sauvignon blanc', and 'chillis' have increased by 71 per cent, 119 per cent and 206 per cent respectively compared to last year.
Sales of jalapenos have also increased by 11 per cent versus last year and sales of sauvignon blanc have gone up eight per cent compared to last week.
Pierpaolo Petrass, a master of wine and the head of the supermarket's wine buying team, explained why the two flavours complimented each other.
He said: 'People have moved beyond traditional sweet and fruity drink options, turning towards salty, sour and tangy flavours.
'The 'spicy sauvignon blanc' is the latest evolution of this.
'The reason these two flavour profiles are proving popular when combined is due to the peppery nature of the jalapenos complimenting the peppery, herbaceous flavours of a sauvignon blanc.'
'Wine and spice are not traditionally friends'
It follows a similar trend in 2022 which saw people adding sliced green jalapenos into a glass of ice cold rosé.
At the time, wine experts were quick to criticise the combination.
Olivia Bodle, head of events at Cult Wines, said: 'Wine and spice are not traditionally friends. That's why when you go to an Indian or a Thai restaurant, you tend to drink beer.
'Spicy food makes wine seem more alcoholic and accentuates tannins, which is bad for your experience of the wine and diminishes the positive qualities.'
Jeany Cronk, founder of Maison Mirabeau rosé, added: 'While spice notes exist in winemaking – for example, the grape syrah [also known as shiraz] can add a spicy or peppery note, it would never be as dominant as what you would get from jalapenos. Our wines are delicate, elegant and dry, which means they don't lend themselves well to the addition of powerful jalapenos.'
