One of the best ways to improve your palate is to do a tasting at the winery and chat with the winemaker as you taste. We have a page listing regularly scheduled FREE wine tastings at metro area specialty wine retailers and liquor stores. Most wineries charge a tasting fee, but some are very affordable and a very few are FREE. Examples? The family-owned Balistreri Vinyard’s Denver winery offers a complimentary tasting of its award-winning wines and a tour of the wine cellar and winemaking facilities. In addition, Balistreri has a gift shop and serves lunch seven days a week. 1946 E. 66th Ave., Denver, 303-287-5156. ♦ Tasting at Augustina’s Winery in Boulder, is not free, but it is cheap: $3 to taste up to five wines and $5 to taste 10 wines, and the fee is refunded with a purchase. 4715 N. Broadway, Unit B-3, 303-520-4871. Augustina’s also has a booth at the Saturday and Wednesday Boulder farmers’ market. ♦ The Turquoise Mesa Winery tasting room, which is open Thursday through Saturday from 1 to 6 p.m., charges just $5. 11705 Teller St., Unit C, Broomfield, 303-653-3822.