Tropical plant schmuck dipped in wine (7)
I believe the answer is:
cassava
'tropical plant' is the definition.
(South American shrub)
'schmuck dipped in wine' is the wordplay.
'schmuck' becomes 'ass' (both can mean a foolish person).
'dipped in' indicates putting letters inside.
'wine' becomes 'cava' (type of Spanish wine).
'ass' put within 'cava' is 'CASSAVA'.
(Other definitions for cassava that I've seen before include "tree" , "Edible starchy root" , "source of starch" , "Manioc, source of tapioca" , "Starchy crop" .)