A New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc infused with jalapeño has just been released and Sarah Jessica Parker and a Kiwi wine company are behind the spicy new creation.
She’s known for her unexpected and vibrant fashion mix and now Sarah Jessica Parker is bringing that approach to wine.
The actress and NZ’s Invivo wines have long been collaborators, but their newest release might come as a surprise to some.
Inspired by the recent social media trend of dropping fresh jalapeño slices into a glass of wine (sometimes called a ‘Spicy Sauvy B’), the new Invivo X SJP release takes the idea and bottles it. Made with New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc grapes, Invivo X, SJP Spicy Jalapeño Sauvignon Blanc is infused with natural jalapeño and chilli extracts.
Invivo Wines’ Co-founders Rob Cameron and Tim Lightbourne worked with Parker to translate the hack. The surprising wine is said to have crisp, tropical notes with controlled, buildable heat.
“Rob, Tim and I spent months getting the balance just right,” says Parker. “We wanted a wine with a little bit of heat, but never at the expense of the wine itself. It had to be something we’d genuinely want to pour for friends and have on our own table.”
Invivo Cofounder and Winemaker Rob Cameron reveals the addition of jalapeño was actually a seamless fit. Both Sauvignon Blanc and jalapeños contain pyrazines, compounds responsible for green, herbaceous notes.
“The idea was to build on the familiar flavour cues in Sauvignon Blanc and introduce a gentle, complementary heat on the palate,” says Cameron. “Jalapeño was a natural fit, thanks to its fresh, green notes.” Cameron says Parker’s palate was crucial in determining the right balance of heat.
The New Zealand winemaker and American actress have been working together since their first release in 2019, a Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. The collection has grown to include a French Rosé, New Zealand Pinot Noir, 0% Sauvignon Blanc and now the Spicy Jalapeño Sauvignon Blanc.
The spicy new arrival is already picking up interest in the US, according to the brand, particularly in states such as Texas as local Tex-Mex cuisine and year-round sun make a crisp and spicy drop extra appealing. Invivo is hoping Kiwis will also dive into the new arrival and is even working with Auckland Taqueria Tacoteca and Rosie’s Red-Hot Cantina in Wellington to serve the jalapeño Sauvignon Blanc by the glass over summer.
