Wine Cellaring Software Comparison
There are many different wine cellar softwares on the market today, each providing unique functionalities to help manage your wine collection. Wine cellar programs have come a long way from simple data entry systems to more sophisticated applications accessed on mobile tech gadgets such as phones, iPads, and laptops. As technology in wine cellaring continues to evolve, wine collectors have more varieties to choose from depending on their business needs. Deciding which application best serves your needs can be confusing as every program boasts of being the next big thing since sliced bread. In this article, we discuss some of the features of the top wine cellaring softwares:
Personal Wine Curator
This program is a comprehensive wine cellar management software that allows for detailed data entry with multiple useful fields e.g. values, tasting menus, tracking purchases, etc. Users interact with fellow wine enthusiasts and exchange ideas such as how to pair wines with certain foods. Users can go further and monitor the maturity of wines to determine when to sell for maximum value.
Pros:
Quick and detailed data entry
Can be operated on any device
Has over 7,500 food and wine pairings
Can export data to excel
Cons:
Requires knowledge of computers
Vinoteka Classic
Vinoteka is a more advanced wine cellar system that goes beyond basic data entry to more advanced fields like taste notes. Users can rate different wines on a grade ranging from one to seven points. Vinoteka has a search system that automates the addition of new wines which saves you time when looking for a particular bottle of the last batch you entered. Vinoteka has a maximum number of eleven racks of wine which can pose a challenge for commercial wine cellars that carry thousands of wine bottles.
Pros:
Able to search for bottles via barcode
A generous rating grade system
Cons:
Limited number of racks to store wine
Requires Vinoteka software to sync data
Snooth Wine Pro
This application searches for new wines and tracks wines that have been sold or consumed. Users enter data on new wines by clicking on the “Search for Wine” button. However, this software does not track the exact location of the wine bottle but you can add this on the Snooth website.
Pros:
Suitable for casual wine collectors
Data can sync on multiple devices
Cons
Does not provide location of bottles
The visual recognition engine often fails
WineBase
This wine cellar inventory software has superior search, query and tracking capabilities unrivaled by other applications. This software includes data from the most revered wine reference guide in Australia. Users can track their monthly expenditure on wine, aging of their wine, and check the distribution by variety and region. WineBase supports exporting data to spreadsheets and importing the Excel data back into the program.
Pros:
More extensive features including tasting notes
Import and export spreadsheets
Track monthly costs on sales and purchases
Cons:
Requires computer knowledge to operate
CellarTracker
This software has robust search systems that surface information by just typing the relevant keywords. CellarTracker provides access to wine reviews and averages of ratings by wine experts and regular wine fans. Although this app is subscription free, you will need to pay to access ratings posted by wine experts. This software has a UPC scanning system that stores the barcode numbers of each bottle. Complete data entry in two simple steps; start off by adding the wine then select the vintage from a vast menu that makes it easy to spot the vintage you want. This app makes for a fast way to digitize your wine cellar data.
Pros:
Access to reviews and ratings
Easy and quick to use
Automatically syncs with other devices
Cons:
Users have to pay for expert ratings
Lacks graphical cellar representation
Vino Cellar
This software boasts a superior level of detail including the wine’s pH level and color of the cork. Vino Cellar gives you the option to input wine data manually, or you can search keywords. After creating a wine list, make a visual representation of the cellar indicating how to number columns and rows. Drag and drop a bottle into the rack then specify the position where the bottle will stand in by double tapping in that area. Repeat this process for all.
Pros:
High level of detail
Appropriate for small-scale collectors
Cons:
Tedious data entry
Syncs data manually
Cellar
This application allows you to input basic information such as the wine name and producer of the bottle. This program lacks other important fields such as specific location, price, tasting notes, and most importantly, the rating of the wine. Due to its simplicity, Cellar is suitable for small scale wine collectors who stock wine for private consumption. It is easy to navigate even for people whose technology savviness is on the lower side. For instance, a retired couple at the onset of their wine collecting journey may find this software appealing.
Pros:
Easy to use and understand
Tracks the number of wine bottles
Cons
Provides limited information
Does not sync automatically with other devices
Conclusion
If you are in the market for the perfect wine cellaring software, there are key features that you expect to find in any application worth its salt. Consider data entry, adaptability to multiple devices, interaction capability and subscription fees. Make an informed choice that suits the scale and needs of your wine collection.