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In the world that is wine, connoisseurs and novices alike generally fall into two groups. There are Hedonists who concentrate on the pleasure of drinking wine and seek to discover more to appreciate. Then there are Thinkers who take a technical approach. Thinkers enjoy the differences in wines--the faults, the strengths and whether a wine conforms to its appellation (designated origin and variety).

These separate characteristics of both types of wine enthusiasts overlap. For instance, if one first learns how to taste wine (like the Thinker), one can then better enjoy drinking wine (like the Hedonist). In short, the more you know about wine, the more you will enjoy it. Another benefit of learning the nuances of wine is discovering the flaws. Instead of merely deciding that you don't like a particular wine, you'll know what it is you don't like about it. But before you get too excited about sending back a wine in a restaurant (and telling the server exactly why you don't like it), here are some secrets of truly tasting it.

1. Be healthy. Having a cold or the flu makes tasting a waste of time.

2. Freshen your palate by eating a small slice of bread or sipping water. You shouldn't have had recent contact with chocolate, cigarettes, strong spices, drinks or mints.

3. Consider your surroundings. Is there anything present that might influence you? Are there any lingering odors?

4. Get the right glass. We could go on and on about the perfect glass for each type of wine, but here are the essentials--the standard tulip-form wineglass should be clear and thin. The stem should be long enough so you don't warm the wine with your fingers when you hold it. Fill the glass a third of the way up so the wine can be swirled to release aromas. We'll get back to swirling in step 6.

5. Consider appearance. Look at the wine against a white background by tilting the glass away from you. The first indication of quality is in the intensity and shade of color.

If you see green shades in a white wine, expect acidity (a crisp quality causing the mouth to water). Yellow-gold indicates ripeness or barrel-aging (a quality which imparts an oaky, charry smell or taste). If you see a hint of brown, that could indicate the wine is past its prime as white wines gain in color with age. Some white wine color terms: yellow (associate with words like pale, straw, lemon, green, golden), gold (green, red bronze), topaz, amber, caramel.

Purple and blue in a red wine indicate youth and richness. Orange or brick tones at the rim speak on the red's maturity as red wines fade in color with age. Some red wine terms: light, dark, garnet, vermilion, ruby, plum, mahogany, inky, purple, with some older wines falling under bisque, orange or maroon.

6. Swirl the wine in your glass. Observe the way the wine runs down the sides of the glass. Some wines will form "legs" or "tears." A wine's legs are a visual notion that were once thought to indicate quality and balance, but in reality legs comment on surface tension and alcohol content. Wines that don't form legs typically have low alcohol levels.

7. Smell the wine. Once you have given it a few swirls, bring the glass quickly to your nose. Take some time to absorb the odors, then smell your shirt sleeve, bread or a glass of water, clearing the scent. Smell the wine again and begin to associate what you smell with familiar aromas, such as: fruits (blackcurrant, raspberry, plum, apple, banana, etc.), herbs and spices (clove, pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, etc.), flowers (iris, violet, lime, rose, hawthorn, etc.), foods (chocolate, coffee, bread, tea, mushrooms, etc.), earth and woods (hay, leaves, leather, tar, oak, fern, ivy, moss, pine, venison, musk, game, etc.), and unpleasant odors (wet fur, dirty socks, mold).

Smelling wine is all about practice and attentiveness. It doesn't hurt to literally become a smeller. Smell everything--groceries, cooked food, dirt, grass, flowers, medicines, animals--don't limit yourself.

8. Taste the wine. Take a medium-sized sip and slosh it around your mouth. Make sure your tongue is covered. With wine still in your mouth, purse your lips and draw in some air to deepen the flavor. Keep the wine as long as you can identify different tastes.

9. Reflect and take notes. Did you like what you tasted? If you aren't sure, give it another round.

Now that you've gone through Wine Tasting 101, throw a wine-tasting party!