Vivino and Delectable are two popular wine apps, but which is the best? In this article, we will take a look at both of them and then make our decision. Of course, you may agree to disagree.
The Most Important Differences Between Delectable and Vivino
- Delectable has a smaller selection of wines than Vivino. In fact, Vivino has the world’s biggest online selection of wine.
- Both apps give reviews on the wines. However, Vivino recommends wine based on customer reviews, while Delectable relies on professional reviews.
- Delectable features more expensive wines, while Vivino has more affordable wines.
Covid-19 has changed the way we do our shopping. Even if you do want to go to the supermarket, you probably don’t want to linger. This has brought a rise in online trade with deliveries straight to your door. Wine apps have definitely benefited from this trend. Despite the worry that the wine industry might suffer from the global pandemic, this has not been the case and the wine industry is thriving.
However, are wine apps really worth your time? Read on to find out.
What is the Difference Between a Wine Subscription, a Wine Delivery Service and a Wine App?
Wine Subscriptions
With a wine subscription, you have a box of wine delivered to your door. Some companies will offer a delivery each month, others, every three months, and a few, every six months. Usually, the wine is chosen for you, but you do get to choose if you want red or white wine or a mixture of both. Often, the company will get you to fill in a form online where you can state your different tastes. This helps them to customize a box for you. However, a few wine subscription services do allow you to make your own choice of wine.
Pros
- Wine subscriptions are a great gift idea for birthdays, Christmas, and other special occasions.
- Wine subscriptions are a good idea for someone who doesn’t know much about wine. They will be introduced to different flavours and this should start their wine journey.
- They are easy to use. All you do is select the subscription you want, give your payment details, and then just wait for the wine to arrive.
Cons
- Wine subscriptions can be expensive.
- You might not get the finest wines out there for the price you pay.
- It’s not the best choice if you don’t drink wine regularly unless you can get a three or six-month subscription.
Wine Delivery Services
In one way, wine delivery services are similar to subscriptions. They deliver wine straight to your door. However, they are online marketplace services in that you browse through the selection of wines, choose the ones you want, and then pay. You can choose the wine you want, unlike a subscription service where they choose the wine for you. A few delivery services do offer a subscription service, but they are few and far between.
Pros
- They are useful if you only want to order a bottle or two of wine now and again.
- You don’t have to make a commitment as you do with a wine subscription service.
- Most wine delivery services are competitive in price.
- You get delivery to your door.
- You can choose the wine you want.
Cons
- It isn’t a good choice if you don’t know much about wine.
- You have to make more of an effort to order wine. If you take out a subscription, it is all done for you.
- It’s not as interesting as browsing the shelves in a supermarket or off licence.
Wine Apps
Wine apps are a recent addition to the wine market. They are an interesting and innovative alternative to wine subscriptions and wine delivery services. You load the app on your phone and therefore you can use it wherever you go. It offers other features such as rating the wine and finding out more about the wine you choose. Like subscriptions and deliveries, they also offer delivery to your door.
Pros
- You get guidance towards which wines to choose.
- You aren’t committed to a certain amount of bottles each month or three months as with a wine subscription service.
- You have more say in recommending the best wines.
- Delivery to your door.
Cons
- They aren’t ideal if you want to give someone a gift.
- They’re generally not any cheaper than wine delivery services.
- You don’t get a sense of community as you might do with a wine subscription service.
Comparison Between Vivino and Delectable
Now that we have looked at the pros and cons of wine subscription services, wine delivery services, and wine apps, it’s time to compare two wine apps, Vivino and Delectable and maybe discover which is the best.
What Devices Do Vivino and Delectable Work On?
You can download both Vivino and Delectable on Apple App Store and Google Play. They will work on both IOS phones and Android although you do need to make sure that they have been updated recently.
Why Have Vivino and Delectable Been Created?
In this day and age, more and more people are using their phones for browsing the internet, social media, and ordering things from different marketplaces. So, why not order wine on your phone wherever you are instead of waiting to get home and use the laptop.
Wine apps have taken some ideas from wine subscription services and wine delivery services. They offer delivery to your door and like wine delivery services, give you a selection of wines to choose from. However, the marketing ideas behind Vivino and Delectable do vary a little and we’ll take a look at them now.
Vivino
Vivino’s marketing is based on the impressive selection of wines that they offer. It could be overwhelming, but they offer tools to help you select which wines you want. There is a ‘Taste Profile’ feature that tells you about the flavour of the wines. In fact, Vivino describes itself as both an exciting discovery and a community.
However, Vivino does also have a traditional marketplace that you can access on your laptop. This works like a wine delivery service.
Delectable
Delectable focuses less on a community and more on the individual. They have a ‘Scan and Rate’ feature so that you can rate the wine that you have bought. There is also a wine journal where you can put notes about the wine you have purchased.
Opinion
Vivino and Delectable are trying to create the same result, that is, to sell wine. However, they are concentrating on different things. Vivino is interested in establishing a community of wine lovers who can contribute their thoughts to the app for everyone to read. Delectable is more interested in the individual. However, we don’t feel that either is right or wrong. It is really up to your personal preference. We really need to take a deeper look at both apps to see what else they offer.
The Comparision Between the Main Features of Vivino and Delectable
It is a good idea to look at the main features of both Vivino and Delectable to see how they compare. They are both trying to achieve the same result, that is, selling wine, but they may be taking a different route to get there.
Label Scanning
Both Vivino and Delectable offer label scanning. This is great for someone who is looking for a similar wine to what they have had before or wants to try a new wine.
Vivino
Vivino is easy to use. All you do is take a photo of the wine label on your phone and then you will be given ratings for that wine, a description, and a list of places where you can purchase the wine. It will even tell you which restaurants stock it.
Delectable
As with Vivino, just take a photo of the wine label on your phone. You will get ratings and a description of the wine. However, unlike Vivino, they don’t tell you which stores you can buy the wine from, but does that really matter if you can order the wine from the app.
Opinion
When it comes to label scanning, there really isn’t that much difference between Vivino and Delectable.
Favouriting
Favouriting is a way of keeping a record of what wines you have tried and what you thought of them. It is easy to forget if you try a lot of wines.
Vivino
With Vivino, you are able to keep track of every wine you have tried. You will also be able to see what you rated the wine and when you last tried it. You have the opportunity to write extra notes about the wine. There is also a ‘virtual wine cellar’ where you can add the wines you have in stock. This helps you to keep account of what you have bought and what you need.
Delectable
Delectable is similar to Vivino, but it also has a wine journal where you can put your ratings, favourites, and descriptions of each wine you have purchased. The app also gives you the opportunity to share your thoughts with others and recommend wines.
Opinion
The ability to track the wine you have purchased is a bonus with both apps. However, Delectable probably has a slight edge as you can share your thoughts with others.
Can You Discover New Wine With Either Vivino or Delectable?
We think that most people would expect to find new wines from a wine app and to get recommendations. It is much easier to do this on a wine app rather than through a wine subscription or wine delivery service.
Vivino
Vivino is community-driven. When you research a wine, you will get ratings from other customers as well as reviews. These can easily sway you towards trying a new wine. There is a ‘compare’ option so you can compare similar wines with each other. Here they are sorted by ratings, the price of the wine, and sometimes, where it was produced. This shows how community-driven Vivino is. It is extremely helpful to have this function as it opens a whole new world of wine.
Delectable
Delectable isn’t quite the same as Vivino in this respect, but it does help you to find new wines. While Vivino has reviews from customers, Delectable has chosen to just include reviews from professionals such as winemakers and sommeliers. You will be getting an expert opinion, but perhaps you might want to know what the average customer thinks of the wine.
Opinion
Both apps allow you to discover new wines which can give you a rest from trying to find new wines on your own. The only difference is that Delectable uses professional reviews while Vivino uses customer reviews. Really, we think the choice is yours. The advantage of Vivino is that there are more ratings than Delectable. Perhaps you want to know what the professional thinks, or maybe you are more interested in what people like you and me think about the wine.
Ordering and Delivery
It is important to know how easy it is to order from either app, and what their delivery policy is.
Vivino
You can order directly from the app, but you can also order via their website. This is a good option for those who aren’t familiar with apps. Delivery is to your door and they have a customer service phone line if problems occur.
Delectable
You can also order directly from the app, but there isn’t a website. They offer delivery to your home as well. However, there isn’t a phone number you can contact if there are problems, just an email address.
Opinion
Vivino has the edge over Delectable. They have a website as well as an app and they also offer support via a phone number rather than an email which is more satisfactory.
Selection of Wines
Vivino
Vivino has a large selection of wines, in fact, they total 11.9 million. You may feel impressed or you could be overwhelmed.
They have wines from all over the world and they also feature wine based on food pairings which is useful if you’re not sure what wine to serve at a dinner party.
Vivino always has plenty of stock. They do, however, stock mainly affordable wines, so if you are looking for more expensive wine, you may have problems.
Vivino Picks
Reserve Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019
This wine is reasonably priced so is great for family meals. It has tropical notes such as passionfruit and lychee. There are some floral notes and a hint of vanilla. It is a refreshing wine and would go well with poultry dishes and pasta in a tomato sauce.
El Enemigo Franc 2016
This wine hails from Argentina and, like the Sauvignon Blanc, is affordable. There are dark berry flavours but they are not overpowering. You also get a taste of oak, pepper, and leather. This wine pairs well with red meat.
Chateau Leoube Sparkling de Leoube Rose NV
This sparkling wine pairs well with a cheese board and even dessert. There are hints of stone fruits like peaches and apricots, as well as pears. It has a creamy finish that just slides down.
Delectable
Delectable doesn’t have as many wines on offer as Vivino. However, the choices are more specific. You will be able to browse wines from different regions and even from featured vineyards. You can still find a great range of choices, such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Champagne.
Delectable Picks
Carpineto Riserva Chianti Classico Sangiovese Blend 2016
This wine tastes of plums and cherries, with a hint of liquorice and mocha. It is bold with strong flavours and would be a great accompaniment to a roast beef dinner.
Sybarite Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara Sauvignon Blanc 2019
This wine has some acidity but not enough to make it sharp. It is refreshing with a taste of citrus and bright fruit, with an aroma of flowers. It would go well with poultry or a creamy pasta dish.
Blauburgunder Pinot Noir Nero Meczan 2018
This wine hails from Italy and is peppery with tastes of red berries like raspberries and strawberries. It has refined tannins and goes well with pork dishes.
Customer Reviews of Vivino and Delectable
Vivino
Vivino has 141,000 ratings and a 4.5/5 star rating with a predominance towards 5 stars. Generally, the opinion is that the app is easy to use and it directs you towards the type of wine you like.
Delectable
Delectable has an average of 4.25 stars, but there are only 5,500 reviews on Google Play. It is favoured with helping to find wines and logging ideas, but some customers were put off by daily email notifications.
Opinion
Vivino comes up tops with the number of ratings it has. Although Delectable had good comments. Vivino had fewer complaints.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the way to use a wine app?
First, you need to download the app and then you’ll be able to do a wide variety of things. You will be able to scan wine bottle labels, browse the wine selection, learn more about the wines, find out the price, and discover where the wines have come from. You may also get food pairing ideas which are useful, especially for those who are new to wine. Then, of course, all you do is select the wines you want, put them in your cart, and you are ready to have them delivered to your door.
Where can you buy a wine app?
You can buy a wine app from both Apple Store and Google Play. You can download them onto both an IOS phone and an Android.
What is the price difference between the cost of Vivino and Delectable?
You will be pleased to know that both Vivino and Delectable are free to download. What you pay will depend on how many bottles of wine you order and their cost. It isn’t a bad idea to download both apps and do a little comparison on price. Then work out the average cost per bottle from each site and make your decision based on that. Remember that there will be delivery fees as well. Of course, there may well be wines that you want in particular and these may be more expensive than others. It can be a good idea to set yourself a monthly budget.
The Decision – Vivino Comes Up Top
Both Delectable and Vivino are excellent wine apps, offering help in choosing wines, but we think that Vivino comes out on top, if only just slightly. They have more of a wine selection than Delectable and are more user-friendly. Their tracking option is excellent, as is their community-based focus.
