Wine Apps...Yes theres an app for that!

Wine apps....no not appetizers....apps as in applications for your iPhone or iPad.  I have found a few that really help you in finding the perfect wine, some that even allow you to purchase on the spot and others that are just great for reading up on wine.  All of the ones I am currently using are free....so try them out and see if they help you! If not, it was free!

Wines and Vines- Reference App
Read up on the wine industry and other hot topics in wine through Wines and Vines magazine. The entire last years worth of magazines are available to scroll through for free!!! The July 2011 issue's cover story is even on the topic of how mobile apps are changing Viticulture. HA. I saw this AFTER I decided to do this weeks blog on apps. I am on it, huh?

Vintage Chart- By Wine Spectator Magazine- Reference App

The key reason I use this app is to figure out which year is best to drink.  Say you are at a restaurant and trying to decide between a 2004 and 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley.....well this app will help you to choose which year is best to drink. It does not sort by specific wineries or labels, just by the type of grape and wine region. It also takes into account how the weather was that year and how it effected the grapes that particular year. Pretty nifty, huh? 

Wine.Com- A combo app of reviewing wines, rating wines, searching for wines and BUYING
I saved the best for last. This app is my absolute favorite. I will say though, that it works best on an iPad to get the full experience. It is still pretty cool on an iPhone, but the graphics and searchability functions are just SO MUCH better on the iPad. With the wine.com app you can search by name if you have a particular wine in mind or search by region or type of wine.  In my picture below I was searching for top rated champagnes in California. Once you have set your search criteria you can scroll through the wine bottles with a flick of a finger. You will then see the price, the rating on a scale of 0-100 and more winemakers notes....see something you like? BUY it! Add it to your cart and have it shipped to you! :-) How easy is that.  OR you can add to your "cave" on the iPad or "cellar" on the iPhone and review later. The iPad version also has the option to show you the deals of the day. I LOVE IT!!!