I was at a recent Winettes tasting party, where a bunch of gals get together to explore different kinds of wine, and someone said to me, "I just don't taste the kinds of things you do in wine. I never taste leather or licorice or things like that." I replied I thought it was largely a matter of practice - tasting and trying different varietals or regions a lot, until you can begin to pick out other smells and tastes around the normal apple (whites) or cherry (reds).

Now a new study from the American Journal of Enology and Viticulture is causing some chatter in the wine world. It says some of us can taste things in wine that others can't. That the taste abilities rest with our individual physical makeup, and that some of us "may self-select for specific professions based on sensory ability."

Well, of course, that makes sense. If someone has a heightened sense of smell, hearing, taste, then they would be more likely to seek out a living using those senses.

I have no doubt that there are a lot of wine experts among that group, with extra-sensitive senses of smell and taste. But you can improve your wine-tasting expertise even if you're not the Superman of smell.

The study, as with all studies, needs to be taken with a grain of salt: Nothing is ever just one way or another. So, as some news outlets are reporting, to say most of us can't tell the difference between a lower-priced wine and a higher-priced bottle is a generalization that's just not true.

First, trust your palate

Go with what you like. If you like the wine, then it's a good wine, and you don't need a wine expert or a rating system to tell you that. The more wine you taste, the more you'll appreciate different varietals, differently priced wines, different regions. And just when you think you finally decided on what you like, you'll taste something else that's even better. That's the beauty of wine tasting.

Wine critics, as with any critic, should be used as a barometer. If you try wines one critic recommends, and like them, then you have similar palates and can use that critic as your barometer.

When you find a bottle of wine you like, take a photo of the label (use your cellphone!), so it's handy the next time you're in a store. Try to plan dinners around a certain bottle of wine. It makes dinner a lot more fun, and will give you a focus when finding recipes.

Get out there and take some wine-tasting classes. When you learn what's behind a wine as far as the region, the climate, and the reasons a grape tastes the way it does, that educates your palate, too.

Boca's big wine-dine weekend

Speaking of educating your palate, here's a chance to attend some great tasting experiences. The 10th Anniversary Boca Bacchanal is almost here, March 23 to 25. This event includes private vintner dinners with big-name chefs from around the country, a Bacchus Bash at the Boca Raton Resort & Club, and more than 140 wines to taste at the Grand Tasting at Mizner Park.

Sponsored by the Boca Raton Historical Society, this three-day event benefits the Society's Heritage Education and Historic Preservation Programs. This is a favorite event on the Swirl Girls' list, so we recommend you try it if you've never attended before.

Tickets range from $85 for advance purchase, $100 at the door, for the Grand Tasting (March 25, noon to 3 p.m.), to $250 for the Bacchus Bash (March 24, 6 p.m.), to $300 for a vintner dinner (March 23, 7 p.m., private residences). For more info, see www.bocabacchanal.com, or call (561) 395-6766, Ext. 101.