Whenever you're tasting wine with enthusiasts, there are always those in the group who can articulate the flavors and aromas in the glass right away. "Ah-lychee nuts," one will say. "Yes, with vague pear and baking spice aromas," chimes in another. "Oh-but are you getting that nice banana-y angle?" asks a third.

Meanwhile, others are standing there privately thinking, "smells like wine to me."

Ready to get in on the action? Next time you're hosting a gathering of friends, kick off the evening with a simple activity that allows everyone to compare aromas and flavors in wines to foods. A way to get the party going, this ice-breaker is more than fun-it's an exercise that draws guests into lively conversations while teaching lessons that make drinking wine more enjoyable.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS

. Set out glasses, each holding a slice or sample of food that's meant to describe wines (see Wine-Food Combinations, below). Pour guests a glass of wine and let them compare the aroma and flavors wafting from their glass to the sample foods.

. Focus on the aromas first-they're easier to identify. Then move on to flavors, which will be more obvious once you know what you're tasting for. The goal is not to impress everyone with wine-geek speak, but to advance a skill: the ability to name the aromas and flavors in the glass. Once you can do that, you'll better appreciate wine and be able to identify the flavors you like. You'll know to buy wines with flavor descriptions that suit your tastes. Labels that read "aromas of peach, pear, and honeysuckle" are no longer poetry, but useful buying advice.

WINE-FOOD COMBINATIONS

. With Chardonnay, put out pear slices, pineapple, shortbread cookies, peach slices, grapefruit, green apple slices, and buttered popcorn.

. With Sauvignon Blanc, put out lime peel, cantaloupe slices, apricots, peaches, banana slices, pear slices, green sweet pepper, and a mixture of freshly snipped herbs.

. With red Zinfandel, put out black pepper, raspberries, strawberry jam, walnuts, fig bars, and cocoa powder.

. With Merlot, put out cherries or cherry jam, prunes, fruitcake, toasted hazelnuts, cloves, licorice, coffee, cinnamon.