You may recall an unusual trend that floated across your feed a couple of years ago: adding jalapeno to your rosé. TikTok went nuts for the spicy addition to their glass of wine in 2022 when just about anything was considered a ‘hack’ and we were willing to try them all. 

If you missed it the first time, good news – spicy rosé is back. 

The trend started when TikTok creator and jalapeno enthusiast @allysainthekitchen was challenged to add a slice of chilli to her rosé. The creator is famous for adding jalapeno to basically everything, so it wasn’t outlandish that she would do it. 

What no one expected was that she would like it, and even recommend it. In just 12 seconds Allysa changed the way millions of people thought about how they’d drink their next glass of wine, sparking a spicy conversation, with many viewers saying a chilli-spiked vino is the only way they’ll drink it.

The idea of a jalapeno-flavoured rosé is not outside the realm of delicious possibility. After all, many wines are favoured for their vegetal flavour notes – particularly tomato leaf. Tomatoes and chillies are members of the Solanaceae family so the added freshness of a jalapeno to an otherwise one-note rosé does make sense. If you squint. 

We reached out to wine expert and delicious. contributor Kate Peck for her thoughts on the trend.

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@allyssainthekitchenHave you ever tried a jalapeño slice in your rosé?♬ Strange Habits – Kristen | SAHM 🤍

“The first word that comes to mind is ‘outrageous.’ This bizarre concoction has sent many regular wine aficionados into a tizz but stuff that, let’s break some rules.”

The general consensus online is that, against everyone’s better wishes, a couple of slices of chilli in a glass of cheap wine just… works. What may start as a basic drop transforms into a zippy, complex and refreshing drink with just a hint of warmth. 

“One approach is reframing the wine as more of a cocktail. A few cubes of ice with some crunchy, tangy jalapeño plopped in on a sunny Sunday – shut up and take my money. Go for a more robust, fruit-forward rosé that will be able to stand up to the earthy, vegetal notes from the jalapeños,” says Peck.

That heat increases for as long as you leave the chilli garnish in, choose your own adventure.

Spicy notes in wine aren’t even that revolutionary if you pause for thought. Shiraz is adored for its black pepper notes. A great pinot noir finishes with a burst of white pepper, and a hint of ginger is great in a riesling. Jalapeno in rosé isn’t sounding that crazy.

Peck’s expert conclusion? “I found the jalapeños pleasantly masked the undesirable notes in the cheaper, sweeter style of pink wine. Has that half-drunk bottle of rosé been sitting in the fridge for over a week? You know what to do.”

So how does it stack up? Is the spicy rosé the hottest drink of summer? Time will tell.

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