6. Don't just stick with big-name wineries. Check out some of smaller ones in area.

7. The nose, knows. Try not to use too much perfume or aftershave. The aroma of wine is half fun of tasting.

8. Call ahead for large parties. If you call ahead some wineries will even arrange cheese and fruit trays.

9. Be patient. If you prefer to visit during peak seasons, you will have a great time tasting, but it may take a minute or two for staff to serve you.

10. To test for a really good wine, swirl it around glass. Legs or tears are what is left trickling down glass after swirling. The stickier and longer legs better quality.

To use: pour a cup of hot coffee, take plastic wrap off spoon, stick spoon in coffee and stir. And TA-DA! -- mint chocolate coffee.

Note: You might want to add some chocolate chips to melted chocolate to give it a somewhat firmer consistency when it cools off. You may also want to experiment a bit with dipping spoons a couple of times.

Another note: you could also experiment with other flavors. What about vanilla almond bark and butterscotch candy? Or chocolate and butterscotch? Or chocolate and raspberry candy? You get picture, I'm sure.

*******************