How to Train an AI Wine Palate: A Simple Guide to Teaching Sommy Your Taste

You know your taste in wine better than any chart or flavor wheel. Maybe you love bright, citrusy whites, or you always hunt for smoky, earthy reds. The problem is getting every wine list and shop shelf to understand that.

That is where an AI wine palate comes in. Sommy listens, learns, and starts to think about wine a bit like you do. The more you talk to it, the sharper its guesses get.

This guide walks you through how to “train” Sommy so it feels less like an app and more like a wine friend who just gets you.

What Is an AI Wine Palate, Really?

Photo by Pavel Danilyuk

Think of an AI wine palate as a trained memory with taste attached. It does not sip the wine, you do, but it tracks what you enjoy and connects the dots.

You tell Sommy which bottles made you happy, which ones missed the mark, and what you were eating. Over time, it links your notes to styles, grapes, regions, and even price levels.

Instead of starting from a huge, confusing world of labels, Sommy starts from one point: you. Every bottle you try redraws that map with more detail, like adding color to a sketch.

Step 1: Tell Sommy What You Already Like

Training starts with what is already in your glass. Think of this as sitting down with a new friend and swapping favorites.

Open Sommy and feed it the basics:

• Wines you have enjoyed in the past
• A few bottles you disliked and why
• Your go-to grapes or regions, even if rough, like “California Chardonnay”
• Your usual price comfort zone

You do not need to sound like a sommelier. “Juicy and easy to drink,” “not too oaky,” or “no heavy tannins that dry my mouth” are all useful.

The goal is to give Sommy reference points. If you say, “I loved that Rioja that tasted like dried cherries and leather,” Sommy can look for reds with similar structure and flavor. Your memories become its starting data.

Step 2: Use Real Moments, Not Just Quiz Answers

A static quiz is fine, but real life is where your AI wine palate grows faster.

At a restaurant, you can:

1. Open Sommy.
2. Scan or type a few wines from the list.
3. Say what you are in the mood for, like “fresh white for oysters” or “bold red for steak.”

At a shop, stand in front of the shelf, open the app, and share photos or names of labels that catch your eye. Tell Sommy what you plan to cook or who is coming over.

These little moments matter. They show how you choose under pressure, with prices, food, and friends all in the mix. Sommy learns not just what you enjoy, but what you reach for when it counts.

Step 3: Rate Wines Like You Talk to a Friend

Most people hate overthinking a 5‑star rating. The good news is you do not have to overthink anything.

When you drink a wine, tell Sommy:

• Whether you liked it, loved it, or would skip it next time
• What stood out, such as “lots of vanilla,” “very tart,” or “super smooth”
• When and where you had it, like “summer picnic” or “fancy dinner”

Simple, human language is pure gold. “Tasted like jam” tells Sommy you lean toward ripe fruit. “Too sharp with nothing else going on” shows you are sensitive to high acidity without enough flavor.

Little by little, your AI wine palate starts to see patterns your eyes might miss. It can remember that you enjoy medium‑bodied reds on weeknights, but happily go bigger and richer for special dinners.

Step 4: Train With Food Pairings Too

Wine does not live alone in the glass. It meets pasta, steak, roasted chicken, tacos, and your favorite takeout.

When you ask Sommy for advice, add food details:

• “Creamy mushroom pasta, want something earthy but not heavy”
• “Spicy Thai curry, need a white that will not taste flat”
• “Charcuterie board, want a fun bottle for a crowd”

Each time you pair wine with a dish and report back, Sommy sees more of how your taste works with food. Maybe you enjoy higher acidity with rich dishes but prefer softer, rounder wines when you snack.

Your AI wine palate then adjusts future pairing tips. It remembers that when you said “too bitter with the burger,” that was a clue about tannins and char. The next time, it can dial those traits up or down.

How Sommy Turns Your Notes Into Smart Suggestions

Behind the scenes, Sommy compares your feedback to thousands of wines. It looks at traits like:

• Body (light, medium, full)
• Fruit level (fresh, ripe, jammy)
• Acidity, sweetness, and tannins
• Oak influence, like vanilla, toast, or smoke

When you speak, “Loved that crisp Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand,” Sommy connects it with other bright, zesty whites from similar climates or styles.

When you complain, “This Cabernet was way too heavy and dry,” it learns where your limit sits for tannins and weight. Your comments are not lost; they are stored as parts of your personal profile.

Over time, Sommy can say, in effect, “People who like what you like often enjoy these bottles.” That is your AI wine palate at work, trained by real nights, real meals, and real guests.

Tips To Get Better AI Wine Matches Faster

You do not need to turn wine into homework. A few smart habits will speed things up without killing the fun.

Here are simple ways to sharpen Sommy’s aim:

• Be honest about dislikes: Saying “never again” to a style is as useful as saying “I loved this.”
• Log even casual wines: Weeknight bottles tell Sommy what you drink most, not just on birthdays.
• Mix price levels: Let it see what feels “worth it” to you at $15, $25, or $40.
• Note the occasion: “Quiet movie night” is a different mood than “holiday dinner with parents.”

Think of each note as a puzzle piece. A few pieces still give a blurry picture. Fifty pieces start to look like you.

Making Wine More Social With a Shared AI Wine Palate

Wine gets even more fun when you share it. Dinner parties, game nights, backyard barbecues; they all come with a mix of tastes.

Sommy can help you aim at the middle in a smart way. You feed in a few friends’ likes and dislikes, then look for bottles that overlap with your own profile.

Imagine planning a party where:

• Your friend who loves buttery Chardonnay feels seen.
• Your cousin who only drinks lighter reds finds something to enjoy.
• You still get a bottle that fits your style, not just “crowd‑pleasing” in a bland way.

Your AI wine palate stops being private and starts acting like a host’s secret tool. You reduce guesswork, avoid awkward misses, and put more focus on the people around the table.

Conclusion: Let Your AI Wine Palate Do the Work

At its heart, wine is memory. It is the bottle you opened when you got good news, the rosé on a hot patio, the smoky red that made a simple roast feel special. An AI wine palate like Sommy’s is just a smart way to keep those memories organized and useful.

When you share what you drink, where you drink it, and how it made you feel, Sommy learns to speak your language. Lists look less scary, shops feel easier to face, and last‑minute dinners at home turn into small events.

Start with one bottle tonight. Tell Sommy what you think. Then let your future self enjoy the quiet pleasure of a better match waiting on the next list, menu, or shelf.