So said the character Miles while describing a particularly expressive glass of wine in last year's comedy movie 'Sideways'. Miles sure did know his wine, and it was very funny, but even the usual suspension of disbelief involved in watching a film is threatened by phrases like "soupçon of asparagus" and "flutter of nutty cheese". So was Miles a total spoofer, or does a glass of wine contain all these wonderful tastes and eh soupçons?

Apparently, Miles was on to something. Good wines are incredibly complex cocktails of tastes, aromas, flavours and colours. Using the palate and sense of smell it is possible for the practiced taster to discern quite a lot about the history and origins of a wine from just one sip. Academic staff at the Wine Department (officially called the Department of Viticulture & Enology) of the University of California at Davis did some research, and came up with something they call the "aroma wheel", which lists 12 major categories of wine smells and tastes, subdivided into 29 subcategories and 94 specific terms.

Obviously you don't need to know each of these categories and terms to enjoy a nice glass of red. So most wine courses start with the basics, such as the different varieties of grape (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel etc), different areas and countries, how wine is made, how to taste properly and (maybe most importantly) how to tell the difference between good and bad wine.

Each of these lessons is generally accompanied by a practical tasting session. There is a definite social element to wine tasting evenings and wine appreciation nightcourses and there are usually no exams or tests at the end. Obviously grabbing bottles and getting legless on the first night is frowned upon, and professional wine tasters generally only take a small sip and often use a spittoon instead of swallowing. However a wine appreciation class should have a nice convivial atmosphere, where people can share their enjoyment and knowledge of the wine, and relax and get comfortable.

Once you have mastered the basics, and been bitten by the wine bug, you can enroll in an advanced wine appreciation course. Here you might learn a bit more about the history of wine, and study the different regions throughout the world where grapes are grown and wines are made. By now you should be tilting the glass like a pro and pronouncing confidently on the different tastes and flavours. Learning how to choose the perfect wine for a meal or occasion (maybe to impress that special person), and matching different wines to foods, should flow from here.

There are some people who have so much appreciation for wine that they decide to make a career out of it. Any half decent off licence in Ireland now boasts a bewildering array of varieties and regions, with wine wholesaling and expertise fast growing business areas. Those interested in earning their living from their wine might be interested in some of the professional courses which are available.

The Wine and Spirit Education Trust are a British based organisation who promote education and standards in the field of wine and certify a number of formal professional and vocational qualifications. They also provide a forum for members to exchange information and share their passion for wine. You can think of the WSET as like the Law Society or the Medical Council, only, well, they specialize in wine as opposed to the law or medicine.

The Wine Development Board of Ireland run a number of WSET courses. The Intermediate Certificate course is aimed at people who are looking to develop a deeper understanding and wider knowledge of wine, especially those working in wine retail, customer service or hospitality industries. The WSET Advanced Certificate is the next step up, and of particular interest to those with responsibility for choosing and buying wines. As these are professional courses, there are exams at the end, and assessment on the advanced certificate includes a blind tasting.

So whether you are an enthusiastic amateur or a professional connoisseur, or a mix of both, a wine appreciation class is a fine way of spending an evening. Lets leave the last word to Miles' friend Jack, who sums up why he liks wine so much…

"Tastes pretty good to me."

The National Education Database on nightcourses.com lists a variety of full bodied and heady wine appreciation courses. Find one that's to your taste by clicking here.