Corkbin 2.5: Label Recognition, Offline, Wine.com / Wine-Searcher integration & More

19 Nov

We are thrilled to announce a new version of Corkbin, available in App Store and Google Play. This is a highly anticipated release with a number of enhancements for wine lovers on the go!

New Features:

  • Offline mode – add wines during your cellar tasting or when travelling abroad where data connection may be unavailable.
  • Wine label recognition – automatically detects the name of the wine you’ve uncorked.
  • Mobile wine shopping – integration with Wine.com and Wine-Searcher.
  • Wine postagram – send wine postcards through Sincerely.com (iOS only).
  • Graphical enhancements.
Below are some of the details of these new features…

Offline Mode

For those who frequent wine caves with spotty data coverage, Corkbin operates in offline mode so you’ll never miss the opportunity to capture a memorable bottle. Wines added offline are synchronized once data connectivity becomes available. Simply open Corkbin and the app will take care of the rest.

Wine Label Recognition

Powered by IQ Engines, Corkbin now recognizes the name your wine. The process is automatic and works in the background.

Wine Label Recognition

Mobile wine shopping

Corkbin now includes the integration of Wine.com, which allows users to buy wines directly from your phone. For users outside of the United States, Corkbin will query Wine-Searcher to locate an online merchant near you. Simply click the “Find” or “$” button  and Corkbin will do the rest.

Wine Postagrams

Available for iOS only. Corkbin works with Sincerely.com to send your wine label photos as physical postcards to anyone in the world. What an original way to share  your wine discoveries!

Corkbin can be downloaded from App Store and Google Play (or update directly on your phone). Enjoy!

How to make Mulled Wine!

1 Nov

Fall is upon us and with it, it brings the cooler weather and the perfect opportunity to sit by the fire (or TV) and enjoy some warm, spiced Mulled Wine!

Mulled Wine is a tradition that has been around since the oldest known English recipe books (The Forme of curry had a recipe published around 1390!) and hasn’t changed much since then, but there are subtle variations that can make your Mulled Wine perfect!

Here’s our favorite recipe for those long evenings at Corkbin HQ:

Corkbin Mulled Wine!

Prep Time: 20 Minutes

Cook Time: –

Ingredients (Serves 4)

  • 2 Bottles Dry Red Wine (Chianti or Claret work great)
  • 2 ounces Port / Brandy
  • 1/4 Cup Honey
  • 1 Cinnamon Stick
  • 1 Nutmeg
  • 1 Lemon
  • 1 Lime

Instructions

Pour the wine in to a large pan (with a lid)

Warm on low while preparing ingredients (it’s important not to let the wine boil)

Grate half of the Cinnamon Stick

Grate half of the Nutmeg

Peel the Lemon and Lime

Cut the remaining Lemon in to chunks

Add the the Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Lemon & Lime Peel to the wine

Add the Lemon chunks (discard the Lime)

Pour in the honey and stir well

Simmer with a lid for 10-15 minutes (not allowing it to boil)

Add the Port / Brandy 1-2 minutes before serving

Powered by Recipage

A taste of Croatia

9 May

After winning 9 golds at the 2009 Decanter Awards Britain woke up to Croatian wine and realised that Eastern Europe has become the ‘new’ New World of winemaking, making wines to international standards.

Although Croatia is divided into four main geographical wine-growing regions we have concentrated primarily on wines from Istria, being most accessible both in terms of travel (less than 3 hours from Venice) and the British palate. To us heart-shaped Istria is the Provence of Croatia, a must visit destination according to Lonely Planet and Condé Nast Traveller Magazine, and Istrians consider their wine to be food for the soul.

CLAI: SVETI JAKOV 2009

Corkbin app users may not yet have tried a Croatian wine; some may want to dip in slowly and others may want to jump in at the deep end, so it seems reasonable to choose here a wine for those who want to be conservative and another for those who require instant drama.

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