A new app set to revolutionise UK wine tourism by making it easier for visitors to find vineyards on the go is now available to download on both Apple and Android operating systems.
Described by beta tester Alexander Taylor of the Independent English Wine Awards as “a game changer for UK wine tourism”, the Wine Cellar Door app is the brainchild of Elisabeth Else, founder of the online independent wine tourism guide to England and Wales.
As with the website, the Wine Cellar Door app features the famous interactive map, which now is able to respond to a user’s current location, and users are also able to filter to just show vineyards with features of interest such as vineyard trails, accommodation, café or restaurants, if dogs are welcome and or if the vineyard hosts weddings.
Users can simply click on clearly defined gold or black pins on the map to bring up more information on the vineyards or other locations of interest which are convenient to visit and serve local wines (such as wine merchants, hotels, restaurants and gastropubs).
Those seeking directions will find the in-app Google Maps function a bonus and when arriving at a vineyard the app is able to open new functionality which allows users to make simple, personal tasting notes.
“We don’t want to compete with other review sites, but people often told us that they found it difficult to recall which were their favourite wines after tasting so many from the same producer,” said Elizabeth Else. “If users create an account they can also mark favourite vineyards, build up a record of where they have visited and share information across different devices.”
To help the user discover more from the UK’s wine tourism scene, an ‘explore’ tab highlights seasonal themes (the app is currently displaying ‘get involved’ which lists more than 70 vineyards who welcome help with harvest), new and featured vineyards, ‘vineyards for any occasion’ and personal suggestions under ‘something else for you’.
Premium listed vineyards are also able to list any upcoming events which are displayed on the app under the vineyard’s individual page and also on the dedicated events map.
The app was developed, with help from LEADER funding, by FdK design in Guildford and built by Minted Box.
“The GPS location technology within the user’s smartphone has enabled us to deliver Wine Cellar Door’s rich content straight into the hands of wine enthusiasts in a relevant, interesting and timely fashion,” said Simon de Kretser at FdK. “Wherever they are in the UK, it will help them to plan visits and discover vineyards that they might otherwise have missed.”
Looking to the future, FdK is exploring how this technology could be combined with augmented reality to deliver enhanced vineyard visitor experiences.
