Q&A: Wine & Food Questions
red wine stains
How can you avoid or get rid of red wine stains from your teeth and lips?
Answer From Expert Roger C. Bohmrich, MW
Red wine stains on lips and teeth are usually a hazard associated with tasting a large number of wines (especially young reds) in a relatively short period of time, as professionals do at barrel tastings or during winery visits. It is unavoidable to have some staining under such circumstances. For most people, this isn't a problem as wine is customarily drunk with food, which helps serve as a barrier to stains.
If you are someone who attends professional tasting events, my suggestion is to carry a folding toothbrush and find a washroom where you can brush your teeth immediately after the tasting, with or without toothpaste. Even brushing your teeth and rubbing your lips with water helps remove much of the dark pigment. I've done this many times myself!
About The Expert
Roger has enjoyed a lengthy career in the wine trade as an importer and retailer, and at present he is an educator, speaker and consultant. He set up and managed Millesima USA, a New York merchant affiliated with Europe's leader in direct sales of fine wines to consumers. Previously, he served as senior executive of Frederick Wildman & Sons, traveling regularly around the world to visit wineries and taste the new vintage from barrel. Roger became one of America's first Masters of Wine in 1993.
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