Sipping Water May Alter Your Wine Tasting Experience

For those eager to fully experience a wine’s range of flavors, sipping water before or between tastes might seem beneficial. However, sommelier Sarah Looper advises against it, as it may alter the intended taste.

Understanding Wine Tasting

New York-based sommelier and wine educator Sarah Looper explains anything consumed before the first sip of wine can change its perceived flavor. To judge wine accurately, it’s recommended to taste it multiple times. The initial sip sets the tone, and sniffing the wine at this stage is beneficial.

“Because we smell better with our mouths, if we put those aromatic molecules on our mouth first, we’ll actually smell the wine better when it comes to our second sip, because you’re adapting your palate to what the wine really is.”

This statement highlights the process known as retronasal olfaction, where aromas travel from the mouth to the nose, influencing flavor perception. According to Looper, smelling during the first sip helps expand the flavors you perceive.

Factors Influencing Palate Sensitivity

Looper notes that individual palates vary due to factors like oral pH and taste sensitivity. Consuming certain drinks can also influence the palate.

“What you put on your palate, whether it’s a sugary and highly acidic and effervescent Coca-Cola, or a sip of something like an Old-Fashioned that’s really alcoholic and really sweet and woody, that will totally jack your palate,” she said.

Looper suggests patience over water for resetting your palate before judging a wine.

Wine Tasting Best Practices

Looper emphasizes taking a first sip, allowing the brain to adapt, and then proceeding with a second and even third sip. This helps the drinker appreciate the wine’s full bouquet.

According to Food & Wine, flavors in wine can change after pouring as it interacts with oxygen. This may lead to a different taste several minutes after the initial sip.

Preparation for Wine Tasting

On days designated for wine tasting, Looper follows a ritual akin to an athlete’s pre-game routine.

“I will brush my teeth, but early, but then I will have a black coffee early to reset my palate,” she said. “Then I don’t put anything else on my palate except sips of water on my way to the venue.”

Although Looper doesn’t discourage hydration, she advises against relying solely on water to reset the palate before evaluating a wine. Giving your palate time to settle is key.

Embracing Personalized Wine Tasting

Looper acknowledges that it’s easy to adhere strictly to wine tasting rules. However, she encourages trying different approaches for a personalized experience.

“It’s not so much about right or wrong,” she said. “It’s about, what do you like? What do you enjoy? What tastes good to you? Take those rules, bend them a little bit and see if an alternative [pairing] works. Maybe you’ll love it.”