To Drink or Not to Drink… Is That Really A Question?

Is life too stressful for you? Have you already broken your New Year’s resolution? Are you worried about everything happening in the world? Well, sit back, take a breath, and grab a nice glass (or bottle) of wine. If you’re like me, though, and know nothing about which bottle of wine is the perfect fit with your In-N-Out burger, I have some app suggestions that might help.

If you complain to your friends that you can never pick the correct bottle, Delectable is one of the best apps for whiners, I mean “winers.” This app allows you to check out what wine connoisseurs like and what goes best with what. It has a comprehensive database that not only includes wines but beers and breweries and a label scanning function as well.

Banquet has a database of over 20,000 wines from both retailers and well-known wineries. It also allows you to order directly in 43 states, or you can pick up your purchase at a local store. If you live in one of the states where they can’t ship directly and you love wine, then perhaps you should move to one of the other 43 states. Convenience is extremely important, you know. The app allows you to search by producer, region, grape, or price. This one is considered to be one of the best wine apps available.

Vivino includes extensive information about all wines in its database. They claim over 19 million users, including 4 million in the U.S. It is available in 11 languages. The reviews come from consumers for the most part. You can also scan a restaurant’s wine list and get ratings and information before you order that special wine for your significant other. They offer a premium version for $4.99 a month, which will add scores from critics.

If you want to keep track of your wines, try The Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s Tasting Guide. It too gives you thousands of reviews. If you love social media, you can share your picks on Facebook or Twitter. Their interactive Vintage Chart helps you determine which wines to purchase and also helps you with restaurant selections. It includes a badge reward program, giving you special discounts.

Personally, I like Plonk. First, because it sounds like a word you made up after a few bottles of wine. Second, because it includes a pronunciation guide, food pairings, and trivia.

If you are like me and only want the finest wines, go buy Sara Bee Moscato at Trader Joes. It’s sweet and cheap at about five bucks. It’s also a kosher wine and goes with pretty much everything from a good ribeye to Del Taco’s turkey taco. Don’t tell any of your snobby wine friends what it is; just serve it.

Enjoy, my friends. Life is too short to stress about world peace and the stock market.

See you on the radio!

Marc Cohen