Waitrose reveals the hottest chilli and white wine pairings as Spicy Sauvignon Blanc goes viral

• Searches for ‘white wine’, ‘sauvignon blanc’ and ‘chillis’ are up 71%, 119% and 206% respectively on Waitrose.com versus last year
• Sales of sauvignon blanc are up 8% at Waitrose compared to last week and jalapeños are up 11% versus last year
• This follows the ‘Spicy Sauvignon Blanc’ trend racking up millions of views on TikTok 

Move over Spicy Margs, summer 2025 is all about the Spicy Sauvignon Blanc. Adding frozen jalapeños to a cold glass of white wine is the latest trend to take hold of TikTok with videos amassing over 14 million views and sales of sauvignon blanc at Waitrose up 8% week on week.

'Spicy rosé’ was a phenomenon that heated up on social media in 2022, but as searches on Waitrose for ‘white wine’, ‘sauvignon blanc’ and ‘chillis’ jump up 71%, 119% and 206% versus last year, it’s clear no drink is safe from a spicy twist. 

Now, the Waitrose wine experts have revealed that when it comes to white wine, it's not just a sauvignon blanc that works well with some added heat. 

Pierpaolo Petrassi, Master of Wine at Waitrose commented, “In recent years, 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 jalapeños complimenting the peppery, herbaceous flavours of a sauvignon blanc.  

There are also other flavour profiles across the Waitrose white wine offering that will complement the spicy addition. Here’s our top picks to give the trend a try.”

Sauvignon Blancs: these refreshing options pair well with jalapeños as the chillis work to bring out the floral flavours of the wine and elevate the slight savoury notes

• Côtes de Gascogne Les Collines de Luza Sauvignon Blanc
• Le Sauvignon Blanc de Balthazar
• Tour Chapoux Sauvignon Blanc

There are also several other white grape and chilli combinations that add a welcome kick to your sipping this summer:

• Waitrose No.1 Gruner Veltliner with Cooks' Ingredients Mixed Thai Chillis - the fresh nectarine and hints of spice in this wine combine perfectly with these chillis, accentuating the vibrant flavours of citrus and orchard fruits
• Waitrose Blueprint Dry German Riesling with Cooks’ Ingredients Mixed Chillis - this refreshing and aromatic wine has a bright edge with notes of honey, orange blossom and lime, which naturally align with the fresh flavours of these mixed chillis 
• Zacharias Assyrtiko with Cooks' Ingredients Green Chillis - the wine delivers delicate citrus aromas that are typically crisp on the palate, meaning these green chillis enhance the salty sensation and zesty acidity that comes with a glass of Assyrtiko
• Waitrose Blueprint Muscadet with No.1 Greek Bird's Eye Chilli Halkidiki Olives - this is a characteristically light-bodied and elegant dry white, and those looking for an adventurous twist can pair it with our delicious chilli stuffed olives for a hot yet refreshing tipple
• Waitrose Blueprint English Dry White with Cooks' Ingredients Scotch Bonnet Chillis - for those feeling extra bold, try partnering this refreshing dry white from our own English countryside with these extra hot chillis to bring out the tangy flavours of lemon and lime