Tannins, bouquets, blends and grapes—there’s a lot to consider if you’re a wine enthusiast and luckily, there are apps out there to help you keep on top of your collection. Technology has made it easier than ever to purchase, learn about and curate your wines, with certain apps providing wine appreciation courses for newbies and others targeted at serious connoisseurs, comparing and contrasting market prices for the best deals.
If you’ve never thought about using a wine app before, Discover Wines Asia CEO Stephen Jones says they help make everything less daunting, “The latest apps are giving users an instant appreciation and understanding of wine.”
Jones’ company, which imports and distributes boutique wines throughout Asia, also lists their offerings on apps Vivino and Wine-Searcher—a move which has brought greater exposure for their wines as sales went increasingly digital following the pandemic.
Speaking to Robb Report Hong Kong, he said, “Typically, the best wine apps provide extensive tasting notes and reviews—all you normally need to do is provide an image of the wine label, and the app does the rest for you. There are even apps that can suggest the perfect food and wine pairings, or tell you exactly where you can find a bottle of your favourite wine locally.”
Jones added there were other benefits including being able to read unbiased reviews and connecting with “a community of like-minded wine enthusiasts” on apps.
Looking to get started with an app but can’t pick from the volume of choices? Jones has kindly shared his expertise below, breaking down some of the best ones to turn to and why.
1Vivino
Best for: Novice and expert wine lovers
Where to get it: Apple, Google Play
Price: Free, with in-app purchases
Vivino’s tagline is “buy the right wine” and the app empowers you to get there. Jones called it the “most popular wine app” on the market. “Its main feature is a label recognition function that provides information about a particular wine which gives users scores and ratings, prices and even differences between vintages.”
He added it was easy-to-use and with a global community of over 50 million users, is one of the most popular apps on the planet.
2Delectable
Best for: Wine journaling and learning
Where to get it: Apple, Google Play
Price: Free, with in-app purchases
Ever had a wine so good that you wanted to remember it forever? Delectable has an in-built “wine journal” according to Jones, as well as a beer and spirits section for those who enjoy other tipples.
“I think this is a nice touch as it allows you to become more engaged and personable with the brand or wine,“says Jones as the app has a superior automatic label recognition built in.
Another big draw is that it offers a series of classes in the app led by wine critics, sommeliers, winemakers and other wine industry professionals.
3Wine-Searcher
Best for: Finding the perfect bottle
Where to get it: Apple, Google Play
Price: Free, with an option to pay for a premium tier
There’s no end of online wine marketplaces, but Jones called this app the “go-to wine app if you want to compare wine or market prices.” Wine-Searcher has been developing its database since 1999, which is closely monitored by its team who keep an eye out for out-of-date pricing and information.
“The key to its success is a robust search engine for wine by typing in any wine region, varietal or producer and it should find it,” he says, “even wines from some of the world’s smallest producers.”
4Decanter Know Your Wine
Best for: Advanced wine lovers
Where to get it: Apple, Google Play
Price: Free, with some in-app purchases
Run by wine magazine Decanter, this app is full of in-depth knowledge from experts and is aimed at those looking to really enhance their education.
“Its offering is slightly different to the previously mentioned apps, in that it appeals to the more serious wine enthusiast who wants to take it that step further,”expounds Jones. Designed more as an educational app than a “wine specific app,” it covers a number of bases from wine production to actually drinking it. “You’ll want to take notes as there’s a number of online quizzes too, whichadd an extra element of fun to the learning.”
Discover Wines Asia specializes in importing and distributing wines from boutique and family-owned wineries throughout the Asia-Pacific market. It also runs an online Hong Kong wine shop here.
