Will be doing a marathon (for me) two days of winery visits and tasting this weekend, not something I regularly do. I’ll probably taste 20-30 wines each day. Will be spitting for the most part and will, of course, be carrying water.
What are best ways of avoiding palate fatigue in between wines and wineries? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I use one to swish and spit until one beer cleanses my palate it really works… Avoid breaks and or cheese during the tasting … It will coat your palate in a bad way …
As said by randy and Charlie, sparkling mineral water it is. Learned this one several years back in Napa. Now, as soon as we get to Napa eAch year I buy a case of Pelligrino and that’s what we drink in between wineries all week. Works like a charm.
You say you’ll be spitting for the most part. I would make that entirely. Any intoxication, no matter how subtle, can really make you lose focus and stop being able to taste well. When you’re going to different wineries and tasting, you’ll have some time in the car in between. If wineries are really close together, I would just take a walk around and look at the vineyards/views for a bit before bolting in to the next tasting room. Sparkling water and a bit of time between visits should prevent fatigue plenty well as long as you’re not drinking anything. If you have to, eat some bread or crackers, but no cheese.
Spitting is crucial. There were 50 wines at the first trade tasting I went to, and I tasted them all very carefully, and then I realized that I was unintentionally plastered. My mother had to drive me home. Be warned.