Description

Episode 104: Wine Tracking Apps - Which One Is Right for You?

Host: Joanne Close

Episode Length: 11:45

Release Date: March 26, 2026

Join the Wine Educate Newsletter

Get wine tips, episode updates, and exclusive content delivered to your inbox every Tuesday.

https://mailchi.mp/6648859973ba/newsletter

Episode Description

A listener reached out asking which wine app to use, and it turns out a lot of people have the same question. Joanne posed it to her newsletter community and the responses came flooding in, with avid trackers, reluctant trackers, and proud non-trackers all weighing in. This episode breaks down what the community said, reviews the most popular apps, and makes the case for why tracking your collection might be more useful than you think.

Joanne covers CellarTracker, Vivino, InVintory and Oeni, looking at what each app does, who it suits, and what it costs. She also walks through the practical reasons to start tracking, from knowing what you have and when to drink it, to building a personal taste profile over time and even valuing your collection for insurance purposes.

Whether you are a dedicated tracker, someone who keeps meaning to start, or someone who has no intention of ever downloading an app, this episode has something for you.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

The Listener Results

How 34 listeners responded to the wine app question
The three camps that emerged: dedicated trackers, reluctant trackers and proud non-trackers
App breakdown by percentage: Vivino 35%, CellarTracker 24%, InVintory 12%, Oeni 6%, other methods 23%

Why Bother Tracking At All

Knowing what you own and where it is
Understanding when a bottle is ready to drink
Making smarter buying decisions and identifying gaps in your collection
Price comparison across markets
Building a personal taste profile over time
Food and wine pairing suggestions
Keeping a record of wine trips and experiences
Valuing your collection for insurance or resale

The Apps Reviewed

CellarTracker

Founded 2003 by Eric LeVine, a Microsoft programmer who built it for himself
1 million active users and 9 million community tasting notes
Free at the basic level with paid subscription tiers scaled to cellar size
Integrates professional critic reviews including Jancis Robinson

Vivino

Founded 2010 by Heini Zachariassen and Theis Søndergaard in Copenhagen
65 million users, 15 million wines in the database, 2 million labels scanned daily
Best for discovery and browsing across 18 markets
Free with ads, premium tier available, not built for serious cellar tracking

InVintory

Founded in Canada in 2018 by father and son team Jeff and Josh Daiter
Sommelier-curated database of 2 million wines, rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store
3D cellar visualisation, AI sommelier, real-time market valuations and drinking window alerts
Includes an insurance export report to value your collection for coverage

Oeni

Founded in France in 2023, the newest app in this comparison
Over 800,000 downloads, freemium model with Plus plan at 59.99 euros per year
Gamification built in: scan a label, post a review, collect corks as you progress
Joanne describes it as Duolingo for wine lovers

Episode Highlights

"Some of you are steel trap minds. It's all in your head and I give you full credit for that."

"InVintory feels like the Rolls Royce of wine apps. 3D cellar visualisation, AI sommelier, real-time market valuations. Talking my language."

"They took my favourite topic and gamified it. Yes please."

Resources Mentioned

CellarTracker: cellartracker.com
Vivino: vivino.com
InVintory: invintory.com
Oeni: oeni.app
Jancis Robinson: wine critic integrated with CellarTracker
wineeducate.com

Connect with Wine Educate

📧 Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/6648859973ba/newsletter

🌐 Website: wineeducate.com

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WineEducate

About Wine Educate

Wine Educate is a WSET Approved Programme Provider offering internationally recognised wine certification courses. Through the podcast, Joanne Close makes wine education accessible to everyone, breaking down complex topics into practical, easy-to-understand lessons. Whether you are studying for your WSET certification or simply want to learn more about wine, you will find the guidance and knowledge you need to enjoy wine with confidence.

Subscribe and Share

Never miss an episode. Subscribe on your favourite podcast platform:

Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Google Podcasts
YouTube

⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review and share it with fellow wine lovers. Your reviews help others discover the show.

📧

Stay Connected

Join the Wine Educate Newsletter for wine tips, episode updates and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox every Tuesday.