February 17, 2004 Wine and Dine Wine tasting. Is it real? Or is it hype? How you answer will determine whether you're a Miles or a Jack. If you're a Miles, you swirl the wine in your glass and user words like "buttery" and "assertive." If you're a Jack the appreciation you hold for wine has more to do with its after-effects. You don't have to write a novel, steal from your mother and drive to Santa Barbara to find a place that satisfies your inner Miles or Jack. Every Thursday, Bristol Farms in Beverly Hills holds a wine tasting accompanied by a meal. The tasting includes six types of wine which are, for a tasting, generously poured. Several Bristol Farms locations host this event, but the one in Beverly Hills is the finest for a couple reasons. For one, the store was built on the site of the former Chasens restaurant, and the red leather booths and wood paneling still remain. Second the chef uses ingredients from around the store in particularly creative and flavorful ways. The Bristol Farms wine department manager, James, hosts the tasting. A representative from the featured vineyard is usually on hand with additional expertise. At $22.95 the price is something you'll appreciate whether or not you've seen the film "Sideways." But in case you haven't: Gum-chewing while tasting is not recommended. Tastings run Thursdays 6:30 - 8:30pm. More information is available at BristolFarms.com.