Sipping water before or between wine tastings, a common practice to cleanse the palate, may inadvertently hinder the ability to fully appreciate a wine's complex flavors, according to a New York-based sommelier and wine educator. Sarah Looper stated that consuming anything prior to a first sip of wine can alter its perception.
Looper recommends allowing the first sip of wine to establish a baseline taste, which also serves as an opportunity to engage with the wine's aroma. She explained that utilizing retronasal olfaction—the process by which aromas travel from the mouth to the nose—is enhanced by having aromatic molecules present in the mouth. This initial exposure, she suggests, better prepares the palate for subsequent sips.
Individual palates vary significantly due to factors like oral pH and taste sensitivity, Looper noted. Consuming beverages with distinct profiles, such as a highly acidic soda or a sweet, alcoholic cocktail, can substantially impact the palate, making accurate wine evaluation difficult immediately afterward.
Instead of water, Looper advocates for patience to reset the palate. Giving the palate time to adjust and then taking a first sip allows the brain to adapt to the wine's characteristics. It is often the second or even third sip, she said, that allows for a more complete understanding of the wine's intended profile.
Furthermore, the flavors in wine can evolve as it interacts with oxygen after being poured, potentially altering its taste over several minutes. Looper described her own ritual when tasting wine professionally, which involves brushing her teeth early in the day and having black coffee to reset her palate, consuming nothing else until she begins tasting.
While Looper does not discourage hydration, her approach emphasizes allowing the palate to settle naturally rather than relying on an immediate palate reset with water. She suggests that focusing too intently on tasting "rules" can detract from the personal enjoyment of wine. A more effective approach, she advises, is to first smell the wine, take a small sip, let it coat the palate, pause, and then take a second sip to observe how the aromas and flavors develop. Ultimately, Looper encourages wine drinkers to experiment, bend the "rules," and discover what they personally enjoy.