If I am going to be sampling or tasting different variety of wines during the course of the evening, should I be rinsing my mouth in between wines and if so what should I be using to rinse with, noting that tap water is NOT recommended for rinsing is there a "timeframe" between wines?
Answer From Expert Roger Bohmrich MW
You are right that chlorinated tap water is not a good idea immediately prior to tasting wine, or during a wine tasting. Of course, as you suggest, if you let enough time pass, the effects of the chlorine will dissipate. Some tasters prefer to avoid any other beverage or food while engaged in serious tasting. Instead of tap water, however, you could choose a spring water which has not been chlorinated, avoiding some widely distributed brands which are nothing more than filtered municipal water (check the label information). You should also avoid true mineral waters with high "TDS" (Total Dissolved Solids) as the salts and metals they contain also can affect your palate, depending on their type and concentration. I would also point out that at wine tastings cheese is almost always served, and - contrary to received wisdom - there is little that distorts the taste of wine more than cheese (except, perhaps, chocolate cake). I am always amazed when I see wine professionals eating cheese at trade events while they are in the process of evaluating wine! So, if it's a choice between tap water and cheese, water is the lesser of evils. As the old French proverb says, "sell on cheese, buy on bread."
