Wine Algorithms, Critics & Apps Can All Be Friends

Matt Kramer makes some awesomely accurate points in his Wine Spectator article today. His points about algorithms as they exist today are on point. But he misses how a good algorithm can be an adjunct (not a replacement) for critics,mexpert evaluations and even existing wine apps.

ALGORITHMS ARE NOT ENTERTAINING

First of all, algorithms are not entertaining. Literate wine critics are, even if their taste does not match mine.

Wine algorithms in general fail to provide me with recommendations that accurate fit my taste. The same goes for wine critics both good and bad.

I enjoy reading many wine critics.

Algorithms are to be enjoyed only when they accurately and consistently point me to wines I enjoy.

Sadly, that is rare to non-existent, which is one place (the entertains part) where wine critics have it all over algorithms.

ALGORITHMS SHOULD ENHANCE, NOT REPLACE CRITICS

Algorithms are not meant to be seen, heard or enjoyed. And they certainly are not meant to…or destined … to replace wine critics or wine apps.

Algorithms should serve as an adjunct to people who like to follow critics.

WINE CRITICS DON’T SCALE

Further, it’s vital to realize that critics are not for everyone. Because fewer than 25% of all wines are ever evaluated by critics, that leaves about 75,000 wines as expert unknowns.

Many of those 75,000 … Perhaps most of them … Are consumed by the vast majority of American wine consumers.

Those consumers don’t want to spend the time getting educated. They find friction in the existing rating and expert processes and just want an easy, fast way to find a bottle they will like as opposed to gambling in the vino-casino.

ALGORITHMS FOR WHEN YOU JUST WANT A WINE THAT TASTES GOOD

To put it another way, very often consumers (even those who like to follow critics and experts) just want a wine that tastes good. For them, algorithms are their friend.

CRITICS FOR WHFN YOU WANT A WINE WITH GOOD TASTE

But when they want a wine with good taste to impress friends, bosses, love interests and such, they truly need a critic.  No algorithm will do.

Kramer also makes a solid point about wine and sharing. Wine offers people to share the same experience at the same time … even though genetics and other factors means that they may not always perceithe same sensations.

WHEN EXPERIENCE AND PERCEPTION ARE NOT THE SAME

The difference in sensations from one person to another are always good topic of conversation as are discussions of expert opinions and experiences.

Indeed, the right preference selection algorithm should be open and able to work alongside and unseen with any experience a wine drinker enjoys and prefers — online app, critic, sommelier, in print or any other medium.

ALGORITHMS CAN CONNECT PEOPLE WITH THE SAME TASTE

That algorithm could enhance shared conversations by connecting people with the same taste preferences (correcting for genetic and other bias factors). Thus, these gatherings could discuss the shared opportunity and a shared perceptive experience.