Tasting: Stella Rosa’s Spicy Wines
Photo courtesy of Stella Rosa
A few years ago, an unlikely wine pairing went viral: rosé and fresh jalapeños. No, I don’t mean drinking a glass of rosé and eating a raw jalapeño on the side. People were actually putting jalapeño slices in their glasses of wine, with some comparing the flavor combination to a spicy margarita. I tried it and genuinely enjoyed it, and although it’s not ideal for those nicer, more expensive bottles of rosé on your wine rack, it actually gave my cheap Tuesday night bottle the kick of concentrated flavor it needed.
Of course, there were plenty of wine professionals that scoffed at the combo, and fair enough—it’s definitely not traditional. But, if you ask me, the wine industry’s preoccupation with tradition is part of why it’s seeing a slump in sales. And while some people are willing to spend major money to source the finest bottles of Burgundy and Champagne, the vast majority of wine drinkers are looking for something more approachable, more affordable and, frankly, more fun… and maybe even something with a bit of heat. Enter Stella Rosa’s line of spicy wines.
This large brand is known for its semi-sweet and semi-sparkling wines, which often tend to be more accessible for beginner wine drinkers. Some of their wines skew toward the lower-ABV end of the spectrum, which is a category that’s gaining popularity as more consumers attempt to reduce their alcohol consumption. But now, Stella Rosa is embracing another trend: spicy beverages. The brand’s line of spicy wines, which includes flavor combinations of chili with lime, pineapple and mango, are easy to drink and capitalize on this growing trend in the beverage industry. And although they may not be the most complicated or richly textured wines you’ve ever tasted, it’s undeniable that the flavor combos really work, whether you’re drinking these wines on their own or adding them to the spicy cocktail recipe of your choice.
I’ve tasted through Stella Rosa’s lineup of spicy wines, and without further ado, I’m here to report my delicious findings.