Try merlots from different parts of the world. This will give you a general sense of your taste by helping you to determine if you prefer "Old World" or "New World" merlot. Taste a merlot from California's Napa Valley, which will be fruity and simple. Also taste a Margaux from Bordeaux (a merlot-based wine from the French region of Bordeaux), which will be earthier and more complex. If you prefer the Napa merlot, your tastes veer toward New World. If you liked the Margaux, your tastes are more Old World.

Buy a bottle of wine from the area that produces merlots you like. If you enjoy New World-style merlot, select a merlot from the U.S. (California, Oregon, Washington or New York), South America (Argentina or Chile) or South Africa. If you enjoy Old World-style merlot, buy a merlot from France, Spain or Italy.

Attend free wine tastings. Many neighborhood wine shops do wine tastings during their highest traffic times of day. Along with tasting the wines, write down or remember the ones you like, where they are from and which winery made them.

Buy wines with the fewest additives possible. Check the labels and look for phrases such as "no sulfites added." Also try wines that are organic or biodynamic, meaning the wine is made from organically grown grapes and manipulated as little as possible before bottling.