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

Host: Joanne Close

Episode Length: 11:45

Release Date: March 26, 2026

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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

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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.

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Episode 104 of the Wine Educate Podcast | Hosted by Joanne Close | © 2026 Wine Educate