MyVinos App: A Wine Cellar in the Palm of Your Hand

Choose from an endless list of reds and whites and have them delivered straight to your location with this Cape Town-based app 

Apps are changing everything. They have altered the way we travel, revolutionised the way we meet potential romantic partners and now, thanks to a locally lekker creation named MyVinos, apps are changing the way we get to enjoy our favourite wines.

Launched officially in October 2015, this fresh-out-the-app-store program is, as co-founder and sommelier Xavier Didier puts it, “like Uber but for wine”. That is, anyone that downloads and installs the nifty application will have access to a service that delivers some of South Africa’s best wine right to their doorstep.

The idea for the app was conceptualised by Xavier, Shaun Conway, Philip Kiracofe and Jörg Pfützner, together with the Taj Reserve, after noticing a recurring trend among Capetonian restaurant’s wine lists: a lack of variety. “While some of the best restaurants I have been to stock good wine, I have seen that almost every eatery has the same wines, and that’s where we come in. We want to give people more choice.”

And now, after months of groundwork, the app is finally ready to provide Mother City wine lovers with a mean selection of wines that are just a click and a swipe away.

Upon downloading the fresh-looking application, connoisseurs will have access to the Taj Reserve’s cellar. Using the app’s ‘vinos’ currency, users will be able to purchase wines from a range of 72 types of wines (from full-bodied reds and refreshing whites, to bold blends and sparkling MCCs). These selections have been handpicked by Xavier and the Taj Reserve team through meetings with different winemakers, attending vino events, keeping abreast of industry trends and, of course, the experience they have gained through the years – Xavier is a certified sommelier who has been in the sip and swirl business for over 15 years.

Vino lovers can also pick wines according to their moods, which Xavier says is probably the app’s best feature. From the ‘romantic dinner for two’ type mood to ‘casual chill session with friends’ desire, folk can find a wine to suit almost any occasion.

And it doesn’t end there. Xavier makes a point of emphasising that the essence of MyVinos is to provide impeccable service. Those living within a 7km radius of the Taj Reserve (it’s in the city centre) will get their wine delivered at its optimum temperature. “There is nothing better than perfectly chilled wine. And vino is very much like perfume. When served at just the right temperature, its aroma diffuses properly for maximum enjoyment,” Xavier explains.

The team not only pays attention to detail when it comes to the user experience, but also ensures that MyVinos serve the growing needs of the industry too. MyVinos goes all out in making sure that the lesser-known names in the business are given an adequate platform to shine by regularly adding new wines to the collection on the app.

“We want to show people just how exciting the wine industry in Mzansi is,” Xavier says. And what better way to do this than by using the strides in technology to create something that is easy to access and something that will inject a dose of fun into the classic sip and swirl selection session.

Note: The app is currently only available for iOS download. Keep up to date with the progress of the Android app on myvinos.club

Tip: Since MyVinos prides itself on providing a great service, those wanting a personal wine tasting experience in either the Taj Reserve Cellar or in the comfort of their own homes can contact the MyVinos team on >winelovers@myvinos.club

The Bill: The wines available at the Taj Reserve range from R70 to R1500. Also look out for special partnerships with wine events around the Western Cape on the app.

Opening hours: Wine is delivered between 12pm and 10pm, seven days a week (provided you have Vinos credits).

111 St George’s Mall | Taj Reserve | Cape Town | +27 (0) 78 786 0307

by Dudu Luthuli

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