Crushed, a recently launched mobile app developed by San Francisco-based wine professional Carla McKay, is exciting for oenophiles and novices alike. Emphasizing the communal nature of wine drinking, it is equal parts database and social network, enabling users to learn about pairings and specialized terms without shame, as well as to write their own reviews of bottles and to see what friends are enjoying. The app’s format feels like a combination of Instagram and Facebook, allowing users to follow one another and comment, “cheers” (the app’s equivalent of “like”), and share text and images.
Through Crushed, users can access a database of practical information to help navigate the often confusing realm of restaurant wine lists and the overwhelming selection at shops; for those better versed in the topic, the app can at least serve as a means of remembering preferences and dislikes, as portable as the photo and music collections carried on smart phones and iPods today. Crushed also posts short pieces with wine suggestions and regularly offers special deals from its business partners. It is free to download from the App Store and is a great way to enhance the wine drinking experience!
