RedGage

Earlier this year global giants Apple announced that customers across the world are downloading more than 800 apps per second using their store software at a rate of over two billion apps per month. This demonstrates how apps how becoming big business, where companies are facilitating the latest state-of-the-art technology to create new apps and entertain their customers. Their accessibility and popularity is a major reason why many industries therefore are beginning to launch their own applications, and this is no different for the wine industry. Both novices and connoisseurs are spoilt for choice when it comes to apps based around their favourite drink, however, if you’re looking for the cream of the crop then here’s 6 of the most popular and acclaimed apps to help you find the perfect bottle whatever the occasion:

Vivino

Want to know more about a certain wine that you’ve discovered in your local supermarket? All you need to do is take a picture of its label and Vivino will use image-recognition software to scan the bottle in question and display its tasting notes, local stockists and even provide space for you to rate and describe the wine for the benefit of other users. You can also use the app to find other wines made by the same supplier using its comprehensive database of over 1 million bottles, providing a useful tool for all those wines you’ve tried and want to try in the future and providing a digital wine journal of your very own.

Wine-Searcher

This app is great for getting the best deal possible on your favourite wines, allowing you to search for local stockists and compare different prices of bottles so that you can easily locate the nearest place of purchase by using its map function. All you need to know is the name of the wine and you can search amongst thousands of participating wine merchants for the best price, making it easier than ever before to find a particular brand which you once tried at a restaurant or dinner party and want to proudly place in your wine rack.

WSET Wine Game

Available on the iPhone and iPad, this app was originally conceived to be educational after it was created by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust to train its employees on the different types of wine available as well as their origins. You don’t have to have a career in wine however to benefit from the wealth of knowledge it provides those who want to know more about what they’re drinking, using infographics and interactive technology to increase knowledge. Suitable for all levels of ability, app users will be able to learn from about where their favourite wines come from, as well as whereabouts they can typically purchase the perfect Prosecco or Pinot Grigro.

Plonk

Accessible and easy to use, Plonk is an app made in the UK where users can navigate through a list of wines to learn more about grape variety, country of origin and food matches for a particular bottle. Perfect for beginners, it even comes with audio instructions to help you pronounce tricky titles as well as provide recommendations on what to drink next if you’re a fan of a certain Merlot or Chardonnay.

Supermarket Wine

Combining the reviews made by national newspaper wine critics and journalists, this app allows its users to explore their comments to help find the best bottle for their buck, both in terms of value and quality. Using all the latest reviews from supermarkets, as well as stores such as Majestic and Laithwaites, you’ll be sure to find the best to impress at a dinner party or social gathering at a fraction of the price, with the app displaying a separate section for wines currently available at a discounted price to save you money.

Olly Smith’s Wine App

Whilst some apps remain relatively neutral when it comes to having opinions on certain varieties of wine, wine expert and newspaper columnist Olly Smith has created an app full of personality and expertise to offer a humorous approach to finding the right bottle whatever the occasion. Allowing users to search by food type, occasion and sophistication, whilst the informal nature of this app might not appeal to everyone’s taste, it uses a wealth of knowledge to recommend the best wines currently available and engages customers to discover different variations.

Wine Dictionary

With words like Beaujolais and Chenin Blanc, it’s no wonder that those who love their wine can get tongue-tied and confused at times. That’s why it’s always handy to have this Wine Dictionary app on your phone to help out with those troublesome terms, which explains the jargon used for different grape varieties, regions and other tasting terms in a simple A to Z format.  Ideal for novices, you never know when you might need it, but when you do it’ll help you understand the wonderful world of wine and put you one step away from becoming a connoisseur.