that a) fit into a wallet, and b) have a lot more of the aromas I smell in wine than most of the wheels I’ve ever seen.
But there were inherent limitations to the card. Chief among them were the fact that it only offered a set of words on paper. For curious or beginner wine tasters, these words certainly were useful in helping to make the very difficult connection between scent and language that is required for us to identify aromas. But it’s still hard to figure out what you’re smelling in a wine, even when you have a list of potential aromas right in front of you.
That’s why I’m excited today to announce that in partnership with Google, Vinography is launching The AromaApp™, an iPhone application designed to take the guesswork out of wine aroma identification. The app is built on the new Google Nose platform that also launched to the public today.
Thanks to friends at Google, I’ve had developer-level access to the Google Nose platform for the past six months, and have built the AromaApp using APIs for Google’s proprietary 
Aromabase.
I’m excited not only to be one of the first people to utilize this revolutionary new platform from Google, but also because what my developers have been able to do with it is quite remarkable in its simplicity.
No longer do you have to worry about finding the correct descriptor for a wine, or puzzling through the difference between white peaches, rose peaches, or pesche de vigne. Simply point the iphone’s microphone at your glass of wine, and press the app’s single button.
Through technology perfected by apps such as Ocarina and others that have figured out how to use the iPhone’s microphones as a sensing device, the AromaApp analyzes the spectral signature of the wine’s esters, and transmits the data back to Google Nose, which automatically analyzes the result and provides you with a compact “tasting” note for the wine.
It’s as simple as that.
Of course, we’re at an early stage. I look forward to adding many more features to the app including sensory profiles that help you customize the app’s sensory range to more closely match your own. But for now, I’m aiming to simply help transform your wine tasting experience into something much more profound.
Because of sensitivities to server load issues, the AromaApp will be available on an invitation only basis for now. Please leave a comment (make sure to fill out the e-mail address field on the form) and reserve your place in line today.
Thanks, and I hope you love this product. Your feedback is always welcome.
If you’re interested in learning more about Google Nose, here’s the launch video:
Allison
April 1, 2013 at 11:11 AM
Almost seems to good to be true. What a great idea. Where do I sign up?
Martin D Redmond
April 1, 2013 at 12:25 PM
Riiiiiight…Nice try though;-)
Wine Harlots
April 1, 2013 at 12:30 PM
What an awesome tech tool to make the chore of tasting notes effortless. What’s the price for such an amazing product. (And can I get a test sample?)
All the best,
Nannette Eaton
Zoe
April 1, 2013 at 12:47 PM
Ha. It’s a great start, Alder! For a future version, what I’d really like would be the ability to hold my phone in front of a pricey bottle and have it tell me if after drinking, if I’ll feel that it was truly worth the price. And maybe it could use it’s predictive algorithms to tell me if I’m going to have one glass too many, if I pop the cork? Maybe I could tap a button to reveal the exact inappropriate thing I’ll text my boss or my ex if I decide to partake in its wondrous virtues?
Betsy Nachbaur
April 1, 2013 at 12:51 PM
Love the concept. Want to try it.
Raphael Rocamora
April 1, 2013 at 1:12 PM
I’d love to try this!! Sounds awesome
Doug Wilder
April 1, 2013 at 2:18 PM
I am waiting for the app that takes out wine stains! Maybe next year?
Alder
April 1, 2013 at 2:25 PM
Zoe,
I’ve added all your feature requests to our DB, we’ll get started on them as soon as we launch the “WWPS — What Would Parker Smell?” feature.
L.M. Archer
April 1, 2013 at 2:46 PM
Nice. Google Nose, please…thanks for leading the way, Vinography…sigh…as usual. 😀
Cheers,
Lyn
Randy Cunningham
April 1, 2013 at 3:30 PM
The video is really well done. The video comment about a “15 million scenta-byte database of smells…” was a tell-tale clue for sure 😉
Champagne Jayne
April 1, 2013 at 3:50 PM
Wow – this development sounds fascinating and I would be delighted to test drive it on champagne at your convenience. Congratulations & cheers CJ
Steve
April 1, 2013 at 3:52 PM
genius!
Alfonso
April 1, 2013 at 4:09 PM
nice one!
CSWLTD
April 1, 2013 at 6:49 PM
I would love to test this app
Tom Barras
April 1, 2013 at 6:50 PM
High tech version for winemaker notes that belong on the back label!
Put me on the waiting list!
Mel Knox
April 1, 2013 at 7:31 PM
Alder, can I get this in pina colada?
Glad to hear you are doing so well.
I hear you are replacing Galloni at The Wine Advocate and that Hydrant is doing the website for Toyota.
Well done.
Rich
April 1, 2013 at 7:37 PM
Amazing! Please put me on list.
Deanna
April 1, 2013 at 7:44 PM
This sounds so cool! I would love to try it!
David Savory
April 1, 2013 at 9:34 PM
I saw Vin65’s press release on the same topic today and it was vaque. Your description of the technology is better but I still don’t see how this can work without a new specialized hardware component for the smartphone. How can a microphone perform spectral (light) analysis? Certainly the microphone can’t hear the esters?
Oh BTW, I would love to try out this revolutionary app.
Thanks!
David Savory
Randy Cunningham
April 1, 2013 at 10:57 PM
All fooling aside – talk about drama. When I first read Alder’s tweet and clicked over to the blog post, my heart sank. I’ve been working on and off for several years now on a new type of wine aroma chart(and app) based on cross-modal association. And now 4 weeks before we launch the mobile app Google goes and releases this new killer “tech-nose” technology… OMG, talk about Mega bad timing. Not a snowflake’s chance of competing against Google backed technology. Then I started re-reading a little closer, watched the video, checked the calendar, and started feeling much better. Like a massive weight had been lifted 🙂
Scot Russo
April 2, 2013 at 1:04 AM
April fools! Nice attempt!
Jorge Miguel Jiménez Garavito
April 2, 2013 at 8:17 AM
It is a very revolutionary application.
I guess it will be useful for our clients and Sommellerie students.
Please let me know when is available at App Store.
Congratulations!!!
Jorge Miguel Jimenez Garavito
Sommelier
@njwineandbeer
April 2, 2013 at 9:43 AM
How can we get into the beta programn
Vikki Oliver
April 2, 2013 at 1:42 PM
This sounds awesome. Very excited since my brain gets fuzzy now and then and when I try to access information it seems to be hiding!! And sometimes there just aren’t enough words for some wines!
Very avid wine taster and drinker!! Can’t wait to try it!
Keep it coming! 🙂
Kristin
April 3, 2013 at 7:40 PM
Okay, I’m noticing that this entry was posted on April Fool’s Day. Have I been duped?! This Aroma App sounds too good to be true (I agree with the other comments).
Do you need any more beta testers? I’d eagerly oblige.
Bravo & cheers!
Amelie
April 4, 2013 at 3:17 AM
Woo amazing app, Can’t wait to try it please reserve me a place
Rusty G
April 4, 2013 at 4:46 AM
This has the potential to be the best educational tool for novice and experienced wine enthusiasts. Can’t wait to give it a try!
Faith brickel
April 5, 2013 at 5:44 AM
I would love to have access to this app. Very exciting and interesting .
Alex
April 6, 2013 at 2:32 PM
This is fascinating I can’t wait to see it in action
Andrea
April 7, 2013 at 9:59 AM
Guys, this is a April’s fool joke!
Ron Rubin
April 7, 2013 at 11:58 AM
What a bad day to launch this “App that will Revolutionize Your Wine Tasting”
Is this an April Fool’s Joke?????
Randy Cunningham
April 7, 2013 at 12:48 PM
Yes, this is a really-really well done April fool’s joke. Don’t know if they give awards for blog based April fool’s jokes but if they do this one has to be in the running for the top prize 🙂
David Price
April 7, 2013 at 10:38 PM
Does this tremendous response give you any ideas for taking Vinography in a different direction? Perhaps a comedy/reality show where Vinography films each segment from different locations in the wine country, and testing the participants’ and audience’s ability to guess where the show is coming from, the relevant AVA(s), and the predominant varietal(s)? I’ll volunteer to hold the cue cards! Free of charge!
SimonB
April 8, 2013 at 6:18 AM
Very interested to try it,
Debbie Elder
April 8, 2013 at 8:12 AM
Yes, please. This sounds so exciting. I want one!
winedog
April 8, 2013 at 8:18 AM
April Fools Day!!!!! Rachel Maddow reported on this joke on 4/1.
Carol
April 8, 2013 at 1:48 PM
I’d love to try this app…sounds like it was made for me!!
Russ
April 10, 2013 at 7:22 AM
Brilliant compelling article though slowly but surely I began to smell a rat (Sorry!!!)
Mind you many thought Da Vinci mad so who knows in 30 years time………….
Ian
April 14, 2013 at 5:25 PM
Neat stuff and almost hard to believe. I’m happy to test drive the app if you’re seeking testers. Best of luck
Christina
April 20, 2013 at 6:57 AM
And I have always been saying that the smell is the only smell that cannot be recorded. Great idea. Can’t wait to use it!
Christina Boutari
Jim Marks
May 3, 2013 at 9:08 AM
I would very much enjoy trying out this app. Please put me in line to try!
Jim Marks
May 4, 2013 at 6:42 AM
Also, please sign me up for automated wine review app.
Christophe
May 6, 2013 at 2:14 PM
Please update me on the AromaApp. Thanks
Christina
May 21, 2013 at 8:50 AM
I would love to try this! Very interesting and innovative!
Rebecca
June 3, 2013 at 7:03 PM
would love tot ry this app!