- Story by David Wylie Photography by Darren Hull

In the mood for a wine that pairs perfectly with a date night? How about a summer party? A bath? Networking event? Relaxing with your dog?

TasteAdvisor has a few suggestions just for you.

The wine app, which is set for release this summer, helps people discover new wines by making recommendations based on personal preferences. It suggests wines, wineries, tasting routes, events and relevant deals 害羞草研究所� all based on your taste.

It害羞草研究所檚 comparable to Spotify, a popular service that learns the kind of music people like and recommends songs that fit the mood.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 glad I害羞草研究所檝e had Spotify to help me find songs, but I needed something to help me find wine,害羞草研究所� says the Alyssa Farr, who is the Okanagan-based founder of the app.

The app takes into account price-point, style, flavour, and sweetness levels, among other factors. A diverse set of characteristics define the wines that individuals like. Alyssa says she and her team have been working for over a year to find out what makes people decide what they look for in a wine.

害羞草研究所淲e learn as you go along about what you start to like,害羞草研究所� says Alyssa. 害羞草研究所淵ou害羞草研究所檒l be able to search through the database and look for genres and categories 害羞草研究所� like best for a wedding, best for a date night, best organic, for my dog and me 害羞草研究所� so you can try wines that really suit your profile.害羞草研究所�

Those who adopt the app are referred to as 害羞草研究所渢asters害羞草研究所� rather than 害羞草研究所渦sers.害羞草研究所� There害羞草研究所檚 a 害羞草研究所渞ecommended for you害羞草研究所� section, with wines that meet each taster害羞草研究所檚 unique criteria, and tasters can rate wines, take notes, make curated lists (like 害羞草研究所淏est Reds of the Okanagan害羞草研究所�) and then share their lists with friends.

TasteAdvisor will have info on wine prices and availability, like whether a bottle is sold only at the winery, if it害羞草研究所檚 for wine club members only, or if the item is a quick seller.

害羞草研究所淭hose are pretty important if you are a lover of local wines,害羞草研究所� says Alyssa.

The app helps eliminate the 50/50 chance people take when they pick up a bottle, especially when there are no tasting notes on the label. It also taps into the feedback of its tasters. Alyssa, who herself prefers full-bodied wines, says the team is working on a system to weigh wine ratings more heavily for people who prefer the style of wine they are reviewing.

TasteAdvisor has been in development for three years. During the first half of the process, Alyssa undertook exploration and research to make something that solved industry pain points while simultaneously being fun for its tasters. The second half was spent building the team, setting up the infrastructure and making countless revisions.

There害羞草研究所檚 a core Okanagan-based team of four behind the app, including Alyssa, whose prior ventures include a construction company and a manufacturing business. The team also includes wine researcher Darcen Esau, branding and marketing expert Linsey Reimer, and marketing, culture and events pro Cheryl Molenaar. The app development team is based in Ontario.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e never done something like this,害羞草研究所� says Alyssa. 害羞草研究所淢y construction background really was helpful because I害羞草研究所檓 working with the digital builders of this world instead of the physical builders. It害羞草研究所檚 the same thing, in that you really need to know what your designs are, have a good drawing and make sure you communicate 害羞草研究所� or you might not end up with the house you wanted.害羞草研究所�

Originally from Belleville, Ontario, Alyssa moved to the Okanagan 13 years ago. She initially wanted to be a teacher, but decided instead to learn the skills that would allow her to build businesses.

Taking to heart a suggestion that she look at something in the wine sector, Alyssa was determined to create something scalable and rooted in tech. She dedicated over a year to trying to understand the key problems of the industry.

Most wineries are small, often with too little production for retail and not nearly enough to be sold out of province. Building a winery is capital intensive and takes a long time to get a return. It害羞草研究所檚 highly legislated, with regulations around both food production and alcohol sales. There are also retail and hospitality elements.

害羞草研究所淚 wanted to do something that would support them being more sustainable by helping these small businesses 害羞草研究所� who are running four different types of businesses in one 害羞草研究所� so that the rest of us can just wander down the road and find things that we love,害羞草研究所� says Alyssa.

害羞草研究所淚 really want to support the entrepreneurial spirit.害羞草研究所�

While the app helps tasters find the right wine for their unique palates, it also helps local wineries connect with customers. Alyssa says that害羞草研究所檚 a win-win and notes that there is nothing else like this on the market.

Currently, Vivino is the most popular wine app available.

害羞草研究所淚t focuses more on the 100-point system, which is based on the palate of a handful of people,害羞草研究所� she says. 害羞草研究所淥ur tagline is 害羞草研究所楾aste What You Like害羞草研究所� because we think wine is what you like it to be. It害羞草研究所檚 not about snobbery and it害羞草研究所檚 not about one person害羞草研究所檚 perspective.害羞草研究所�

On the verge of the app害羞草研究所檚 official launch, Alyssa has been doing walk-throughs of it to get feedback. Prior to its official release, 2,000 people are already interested in downloading it.

The industry launch has given wineries, tour companies and retailers a chance to submit their profiles, tour routes and other info for inclusion on the web and mobile platform.

害羞草研究所淥ur goal is to support wine-growing regions across Canada and eventually in other countries,害羞草研究所� Alyssa says.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 hoping that people will use the app regularly when they go tasting; they害羞草研究所檒l use it when they害羞草研究所檙e at a dinner party 害羞草研究所� they can tap it, rate it and say, 害羞草研究所業 love this, I really want to get it again,害羞草研究所� and put it in their cellar.

More information is at .