One of the better ways to learn about wine is to taste it, especially by comparing one wine with another or, even better still, with several other wines. The best place and time to do that is at a wine tasting, an event held to showcase a number of wines.

A wine tasting can be as uncomplicated as a local retail shop or grocery opening a few bottles for sampling during weekend hours. Sometimes there’s a theme to the selection; sometimes it’s just a chance for the merchants or an importer to display their wares. The idea, of course, is for you to taste the wines and buy the ones you like.

Seasonal fairs, wine schools and winery tasting rooms offer wine tastings. But perhaps the best chance to taste several wines is at for-fee tastings held by a fundraising or affinity group at a restaurant or other venue. (The best place to find out about such tastings, all over the world, is at localwineevents.com, the most comprehensive listing of such events.)