Put Your Cellar in Your Pocket

I am a technology geek, I admit it. I have an iPhone and I couldn't imagine living without it. With the announcement of Apple's newest product, The iPad, I wanted to show you what is available for these devices in the way of wine applications (apps).

After trying out four wine recommendation apps, my favorite one is Hello Vino - Wine Recommendations. This app can take you in 2 directions. The first is you can find a wine recommendations based on a food item, occasion (for example Valentine's Day), taste, style, or region! The second is it can help you pair food with wine you already have in your collection. I mainly use it to determine what type of wine I should have with what I am planning to eat. Now I know the next time I am shopping for spicy chicken taco ingredients I should pick up a bottle of Gewurztraminer!

In addition to wine recommendation apps, I tried a couple wine cellar apps. The one most intriguing was Cellar. It has been more about fun than

anything else, but Cellar has allowed me to organize my wine library into a virtual cellar! It adds a touch of personalization by allowing you to add the label to the bottle via a picture. I have copied a few of the labels from the winery websites but in a pinch you can always take a picture of the label with your iPhone and add it on the go.

There is a section for wines that you want to buy or are interested

in as well. For example, if you are trying to remember what that particular bottle of splendid Southern Oregon Syrah was that you had last week, all you have to do is consult your virtual cellar, just make sure you add it to the app when you have the chance! As a side note, it's best to start as soon as you can, before your library grows too large! The last thing you want is for this to be a burden rather than something approachable and fun.