Shopping for wine can be a daunting task due to the vast array of options available in the market. While having a nearby wine store with trustworthy and knowledgeable staff can be beneficial, not everyone has access to such experts. Nevertheless, there are numerous wine apps that provide a wealth of information and reviews to assist in finding the perfect bottle for any event. To help maximize your experience, we have compiled a list of the top wine apps currently available to aid in your selection process.
I am still a novice at selecting wine and find it overwhelming to navigate the wine selection at the nearby liquor store. However, utilizing these exceptional wine apps, some of which are even free, has boosted my confidence as a wine purchaser. I can now easily find wines that suit my taste preferences and explore new varietals. Moreover, as these apps enable me to compare wine prices from online and local sellers, I no longer have to worry about overspending on a bottle.
These are our top three wine apps for 2023. Please note that the advertising widget powered by Navi includes paid advertisements and does not necessarily contain information about all available products or services. We strive to keep the featured offers up to date, but each advertiser is responsible for the accuracy and availability of their offer details. The terms of the actual offer may differ from those presented in the advertising widget, and additional terms and conditions may apply. We present this information without any warranty or guarantee.
Read on for our top picks of wine clubs in 2023.
Image credit: David Watsky/CNET
Vivino
Ideal wine app for majority of users
What we appreciate about it: The app provides the highest number of reviews and ratings from the crowd, together with plenty of information in a user-friendly format. Additionally, it allows users to purchase and receive wine deliveries.
I will always have this app with me when visiting a wine store and I highly recommend that you do the same. While there are several apps available that enable scanning of a wine label to obtain information about the wine, we have determined that the Vivino app presents the most helpful details. Furthermore, it boasts the largest number of users, with over 61 million according to the website, which offers immensely valuable crowdsourced ratings and reviews, even for the more obscure wine varieties.
Once you capture an image of a wine label, Vivino will furnish you with an average price and rating to assist you in identifying whether the wine you have is worth its value. On top of that, in case you are unsure of what to order at a restaurant, you can scan the text of a wine list. Vivino furthermore supplies details regarding the type of grape utilized in the wine, information regarding the winery that produced it, and various other rankings for that wine within its winery, region, country, and globally.
You have the ability to peruse reviews written by other Vivino users and contribute your own, yet what I personally find enjoyable and intriguing are the notes composed by the winemaker (such as “hints of toffee, cherry, fig, chocolate”), evaluations of different vintages (in regards to how they compare with wines from other years), and suggestions for food pairings (examples include beef, lamb, and spicy dishes). As you scan wines, they are saved to a “My Wines” list and ultimately construct a taste profile. The app then proceeds to recommend additional wines that complement your profile. Additionally, it allows you to establish a feed where you can keep up with friends who also use the app and follow wine enthusiasts and professionals. While the app does recognize labels for beer and spirits, it is less successful in this regard compared to its ability to decipher wine labels.
Since my last visit to the application, Vivino has integrated a feature that enables users to purchase wine directly from the application or web interface and receive doorstep delivery. The delivery fees are usually in the range of $12 to $15 per order, but if a particular spending threshold is met, the shipping is provided free of charge. This threshold varies by vendor, but typically falls around the $160 mark.
Vivino can be accessed on both iOS and Android platforms.
Check it out on Vivino.
Screenshot provided by David Watsky/CNET
Wine-Searcher
Best app for wine, beer, and spirits
Why we like it: No need for an account registration, and it can efficiently scan not only wine but also beer and spirits.
The Wine-Searcher app, which is available for free, allows you to start scanning right away without any hassle. Unlike other apps that charge you for scanning features and require you to sign up, Wine-Searcher offers instant and complimentary scanning capabilities. It presents you with the average cost of the scanned bottle, as well as details about the grape variety, geographic region, and recommended food pairings.
The app displays critic ratings and awards received by the wine. However, in order to scan more than 50 labels and access additional critic notes and pricing information from non-sponsored sellers, you must purchase the Pro-level app for $8.99 per month through an in-app purchase. Additionally, the app can identify beer and spirits labels and is more proficient at recognizing spirits than Vivino.
I love the fact that this application guides users to online retailers and nearby physical stores that stock the wine they desire, making it simple to compare prices prior to making a purchase.
Wine-Searcher can be accessed on both iOS and Android platforms.
Visit Wine-Searcher to learn more.
Image credit: Matt Elliott/CNET
Wine Spectator WineRatings Plus
Top pick for reviews by wine critics
What we like about it: Wine Spectator is considered the ultimate authority in wine ratings. If you are looking to build a valuable wine collection, WineRatings Plus app from Wine Spectator magazine will come in handy. By subscribing to the monthly service ($2.99, ï¿¡2.29, AU$3.79), you can gain access to Wine Spectator’s detailed reviews and ratings, informative articles and videos on how to choose wines, engaging historical charts, and a stream of wine-related news articles.
I enjoy examining the old-fashioned charts to check if the bottle I’m interested in purchasing is from an excellent year for that precise area and grape. As I’m not experienced in wine, I discovered that several tips and videos on the subject were informative, mainly those about combining wine and food.
WineRatings Plus by Wine Spectator is now accessible on iOS.
Visit Wine Spectator for more details.
Editor’s Note: This article was first released on February 9, 2015, and has been modified to include the latest apps and information.
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