The Problem with Palate Fatigue
When tasting turns into burnout and how to find your way back
There’s something beautiful about tasting wine with intention.
Stopping, smelling, drawing the map in your mind.
But there’s also a time when it starts to feel like a chore.
One more Chardonnay.
One more red blend with “structure.”
One more note about ripe stone fruit and medium-plus acidity.
One more flight of six blind wines to get through…
It builds slowly, then all at once—palate fatigue.
What Is Palate Fatigue?
Palate fatigue doesn’t just happen in your mouth, it is physical, after 25 wines your taste buds are tired, but more often, it’s all encompassing. It’s not just in your nose and mouth, but in your head too it’s sensory burnout.
You stop tasting or even caring about nuance.
Everything tastes fine, but nothing tastes good.
You know you should be excited, but you’re not.
How It Happens (Even to People Who Love Wine)
It happens when you’re:
Tasting too many wines too quickly
Studying for an exam
Teaching, selling, or writing about wine every day
Chasing the “next” great thing without ever pausing to enjoy the one in front of you
When something becomes routine, it risks becoming stale.
Not because the wines have changed, but because you are tired.
What Palate Fatigue Feels Like
You’re more excited to clean the kitchen than open a bottle
Every wine note starts to sound the same
You start wondering if you ever actually liked wine
You keep pouring but never finish a glass
You find yourself drinking more and more whiskey
You’re not broken. You’re just burnt out.
How I Reset When It Hits
Stop taking notes.
Drink without a notebook, a plan or pressure.Drink outside your pattern.
If you’re a Pinot person, drink a Tempranillo. If you’re on a Champagne kick, open something weird from Alto Adige.Drink less.
You don’t have to keep up. Your palate isn’t a muscle it’s a sense. Give it a break!Don’t drink at all.
Sometimes the best thing for palate fatigue is just water and rest. Take time to remember that wine is supposed to be pleasure, not dread.
Final Thought
Palate fatigue doesn’t mean you don’t love wine.
It just means you’ve gone too far without stopping to feel it.
So, if you’re in that place where everything tastes the same and nothing feels good, step away.
The wines will still be there when you come back and they’ll taste even better.
