August 5, 2005 Wine Oh! There was a time when wine tasting meant a trip to Napa. But these days, Los Angelenos have elevated the act of tasting to an Olympic sport. While there are a ton of places around L.A. to get your tasting on, your options vary widely. Wine. Wine and cheese. Wine and food. Drink standing over a wine barrel in the corner of the store. Stand at a cozy wine bar. Spread out in a spacious bar space. Pay nothing. Pay a little. Pay forreal. If you want to get in on some vino action, but your wallet is begging you to stick with beer, browse the bottles at The Colorado Wine Company. The store is cozy with a separate tasting room the size of your corner bar. Tastings are meant to tempt you to buy. In this case, even serious wine-buzz won't make you do too much damage since all bottles cost under $25. Less of a bargain are the tastings themselves —though they still attract a crowd. Tonight's tasting features wines from Austria and Australia — similar in name only. For $15 you'll taste five wines while nibbling on cheese and nuts. Friday is their hottest night, so call early for a reservation. Let the games begin! Colorado Wine Company 2114 Colorado Blvd. Eagle Rock Tel: 323.478.1985