Beer!

Couldn't agree more.

A good sourdough works just fine but matzo is the best because all it is is water and flour.  It is unleavned which means it doesn't contain baking powder, baking soda or yeast. Â

There is some flavored matzo out there (like onion).  Stay away from that!

David, A regular baguette would do, but unless you are drinking rieslings a sourdough bread is not the best option for palate cleansing since it will change your perception of the wine.

Another vote for beer.

As we do at our larger gatherings out here, the palate cleanser/glass rinser is more Champagne.

J,

I agree.  A baguette has much less "flavor" than sour dough.  I'd bet though that a majority of people use the sour dough and it really isn't all that bad.

Do you seed you glass with a little Champagne and drink it or do you poor it out?

David,

It is more of a joke (that someone actually took seriously last week as they literally rinsed their glass with Krug Rose and dumped it out), we use it as a palate refresher when drinking larger size reds (were a pinot crowd), we drink it. When I am doing serious tasting my preferred palate cleanser is sparkling water.

This thread is about cleansing one's palete. Anything one puts in their mouth will "change" what might be considered "flavor". That is why the best "cleanser" IMO is matzo with a non-flavored still water a close second. In reality it is a good idea to drink water after every glass not to
cleanse the palet but to remain hydrated. Then again I think that waiting a couple of minutes between glasses will do just as well as motza but I always try to drink at least six oz. water for every 12 oz. of wine I drink. When I don't do this I think I get drunk much faster and can count on a hangover. I've never had a hangover though when I have followed my "rule" about water. And I really do think I am sober much longer when I have the water.

Seeding; this is something different. This is rinsing one's glass so that none of the current wine is not left in the glass when the new wine is poured. Almost everyone uses just plain water but if one is a real geek/nut/crazy/obsessive wino one will use the next wine to drink as the rinse. Just pour a small (just a little more than that which is clinging to the bottom of the glass) and pour the mixture out. You have at least cut way down on the old wine there an replaced it with the new wine.