databasing wine notes
 

Hi,

First I have a terrible memory, and think computers should do
everything for me, so I started typing all my notes into an excel
spreadsheet this summer, and seeing as I don't have classes in the
winter I am planning on expanding it. I was wondering what experiences
people have had with this. I know there is software for wine
databasing, but is there anything they provide that I cannot do myself
in Access?

currently the fields i have a
name, vintage, varietals, country, region, price, notes, did I like it
y/n

First I was probably going to switch from excel to access. I also want
to expand the varietals field, because as-is it doesn't lend well to
filtering by varietal. I am thinking I will make it "varietal 1, %,
varietal 2, %, 3, %, other varietals, %. That way I can search for all
100% pinot noirs, or all >90% cabs, etc. Does anyone use a different
method that may work better?

are there any more fields that would be useful, I don't really have the
income for cellaring wines yet.

Finally, this idea is a bit utopian but has anyone considered using
google's feature where you can have a database stored online that group
members can edit for an afw TN database? the FAQ seemed to be a good
community project. I suppose it would be similar in structure to other
databases but w/ multiple different notes fields and one for who
authored each note.

as always thanks for the replies
-tomw

databasing wine notes
 

> I was wondering what experiences
> people have had with this. I know there is software for wine
> databasing, but is there anything they provide that I cannot do myself
> in Access?

I have started using the Palm's database function (Tungsten E, MobileDB)
but it's a bit clumsy, at least the way I use it. (I'd like to be able
to pick from a list of words, but I can only pick ONE word that way). I
put R or W in front of the varietal to group the reds and whites
together, but I don't have a provision for searching by percent. I also
don't have much in it right now. I'm not very good at this, and
thinking about what notes to put down distracts from my drinking (with
food) enjoyment, despite its benefits later on.

> Finally, this idea is a bit utopian but has anyone considered using
> google's feature where you can have a database stored online that group
> members can edit for an afw TN database?

That's actually an excellent idea.

Jose
--
"There are 3 secrets to the perfect landing. Unfortunately, nobody knows
what they are." - (mike).
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

databasing wine notes
 

On 14 Dec 2006 09:51:30 -0800, "Tom" > wrote:

>Hi,
>
>First I have a terrible memory, and think computers should do
>everything for me, so I started typing all my notes into an excel
>spreadsheet this summer, and seeing as I don't have classes in the
>winter I am planning on expanding it. I was wondering what experiences
>people have had with this. I know there is software for wine
>databasing, but is there anything they provide that I cannot do myself
>in Access?
>
>currently the fields i have a
>name, vintage, varietals, country, region, price, notes, did I like it
>y/n
>
>First I was probably going to switch from excel to access. I also want
>to expand the varietals field, because as-is it doesn't lend well to
>filtering by varietal. I am thinking I will make it "varietal 1, %,
>varietal 2, %, 3, %, other varietals, %. That way I can search for all
>100% pinot noirs, or all >90% cabs, etc. Does anyone use a different
>method that may work better?
>
>are there any more fields that would be useful, I don't really have the
>income for cellaring wines yet.
>
>Finally, this idea is a bit utopian but has anyone considered using
>google's feature where you can have a database stored online that group
>members can edit for an afw TN database? the FAQ seemed to be a good
>community project. I suppose it would be similar in structure to other
>databases but w/ multiple different notes fields and one for who
>authored each note.
>
>as always thanks for the replies
>-tomw

This is sort of a FAQ-level question, i.e. one that comes up with
regularity. And, I usually throw a couple of cents worth in, since in
my past life I did software/shareware reviews for ZDNet and one area
that was assigned to me was food & wine software.

Unless you are big into do-it-yourself stuff, it is much easier to go
with a commerical software product for maintaining a wine database.
Those folks have done the brain-storming and then the grunt-work to
put together products that do what most oenophiles want done.

My favorite has long been "Cellar!"
http://www.cellarwinesoftware.com/
I watched it go through several iterations from a fairly database
oriented cataloging product written on the Access DB engine to the
current version which nicely integrates online features so that you
can share TNs, update vineyards & wineries, monitor auction prices,
and really fine tune your interface.

Whether you keep only a few bottles around or several thousand, the
program helps you organize your experience. Enter a wine and the
software provides you auto-completion and drop-down lists to help you
entries. If, for example, a winery is not found, it lets you query the
online DB and it then offers listings of similar producers/negociants.

When you taste (drink) the wine, you can enter your comments and the
software lets you keep them indefinitely. Display can quickly shift
from current inventory to "zero" level where you can go through all of
the wines that you've ever entered. Number of bottles, varietals,
costs, maturation profiles, etc. etc.

There are other products around, such as Parker's software, but they
haven't convinced me that they offer more. Parker, many folks feel is
simply flogging his own tastes and giving the user a DB of his
ratings rather than a true cellar management application.

Look around at some shareware sites or simply Google wine software and
take some existing products for a test drive before you wear out your
enthusiasm building your own app.

Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
www.thunderchief.org
www.thundertales.blogspot.com

databasing wine notes
 

I lost a long reply. In short, I used to use Access, but it's very
laborintensive compared to a commercial program.I'm a big proponent of
Cellartracker.com , I think it's great.

Ed Rasimus wrote:
> On 14 Dec 2006 09:51:30 -0800, "Tom" > wrote:
>
> >Hi,
> >
> >First I have a terrible memory, and think computers should do
> >everything for me, so I started typing all my notes into an excel
> >spreadsheet this summer, and seeing as I don't have classes in the
> >winter I am planning on expanding it. I was wondering what experiences
> >people have had with this. I know there is software for wine
> >databasing, but is there anything they provide that I cannot do myself
> >in Access?
> >
> >currently the fields i have a
> >name, vintage, varietals, country, region, price, notes, did I like it
> >y/n
> >
> >First I was probably going to switch from excel to access. I also want
> >to expand the varietals field, because as-is it doesn't lend well to
> >filtering by varietal. I am thinking I will make it "varietal 1, %,
> >varietal 2, %, 3, %, other varietals, %. That way I can search for all
> >100% pinot noirs, or all >90% cabs, etc. Does anyone use a different
> >method that may work better?
> >
> >are there any more fields that would be useful, I don't really have the
> >income for cellaring wines yet.
> >
> >Finally, this idea is a bit utopian but has anyone considered using
> >google's feature where you can have a database stored online that group
> >members can edit for an afw TN database? the FAQ seemed to be a good
> >community project. I suppose it would be similar in structure to other
> >databases but w/ multiple different notes fields and one for who
> >authored each note.
> >
> >as always thanks for the replies
> >-tomw
>
> This is sort of a FAQ-level question, i.e. one that comes up with
> regularity. And, I usually throw a couple of cents worth in, since in
> my past life I did software/shareware reviews for ZDNet and one area
> that was assigned to me was food & wine software.
>
> Unless you are big into do-it-yourself stuff, it is much easier to go
> with a commerical software product for maintaining a wine database.
> Those folks have done the brain-storming and then the grunt-work to
> put together products that do what most oenophiles want done.
>
> My favorite has long been "Cellar!"
> http://www.cellarwinesoftware.com/
> I watched it go through several iterations from a fairly database
> oriented cataloging product written on the Access DB engine to the
> current version which nicely integrates online features so that you
> can share TNs, update vineyards & wineries, monitor auction prices,
> and really fine tune your interface.
>
> Whether you keep only a few bottles around or several thousand, the
> program helps you organize your experience. Enter a wine and the
> software provides you auto-completion and drop-down lists to help you
> entries. If, for example, a winery is not found, it lets you query the
> online DB and it then offers listings of similar producers/negociants.
>
> When you taste (drink) the wine, you can enter your comments and the
> software lets you keep them indefinitely. Display can quickly shift
> from current inventory to "zero" level where you can go through all of
> the wines that you've ever entered. Number of bottles, varietals,
> costs, maturation profiles, etc. etc.
>
> There are other products around, such as Parker's software, but they
> haven't convinced me that they offer more. Parker, many folks feel is
> simply flogging his own tastes and giving the user a DB of his
> ratings rather than a true cellar management application.
>
> Look around at some shareware sites or simply Google wine software and
> take some existing products for a test drive before you wear out your
> enthusiasm building your own app.
>
> Ed Rasimus
> Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
> "When Thunder Rolled"
> www.thunderchief.org
> www.thundertales.blogspot.com

databasing wine notes
 

"Tom" > writes:

> Hi,
>
> First I have a terrible memory, and think computers should do
> everything for me, so I started typing all my notes into an excel
> spreadsheet this summer, and seeing as I don't have classes in the
> winter I am planning on expanding it. I was wondering what experiences
> people have had with this. I know there is software for wine
> databasing, but is there anything they provide that I cannot do myself
> in Access?

Consider cellertracker.com

Pros:
-access whenever you have net access, not just at your computer..
-many wines are already entered - you can just do a quick search
rather than typing in detailed information. This makes entering new
purchases very fast.
-ability to enter public tasting notes and private notes, and (FWIW)
to see other people's public tasting notes and opinions about
drinking window..
-ability to upload your excel spreadsheet to cellartracker, and to
download your cellar contents to an excel spreadsheet.
-ability to make entries (and notes) for wines you have purchased but
which have not yet arrived to your cellar.
-ability to see average price paid for that wine by cellartracker
users.

-since it is free, you can easily register and try it for a bin or two
of your cellar to see what you think.

Cons:
-free, but a modest annual fee is required to see some items
(like the average price paid by other users).
-need internet access to keep up to date.
-some of the insulation in my cellar is foil-backed, and consequently
I don't get WIFI in there.

>
> currently the fields i have a
> name, vintage, varietals, country, region, price, notes, did I like it
> y/n
>
> First I was probably going to switch from excel to access. I also want
> to expand the varietals field, because as-is it doesn't lend well to
> filtering by varietal. I am thinking I will make it "varietal 1, %,
> varietal 2, %, 3, %, other varietals, %. That way I can search for all
> 100% pinot noirs, or all >90% cabs, etc. Does anyone use a different
> method that may work better?

This gets complicated. Look at what cellartracker does. They've
thought about it some, and it seems sensible.
>
> are there any more fields that would be useful, I don't really have the
> income for cellaring wines yet.
>
> Finally, this idea is a bit utopian but has anyone considered using
> google's feature where you can have a database stored online that group
> members can edit for an afw TN database? the FAQ seemed to be a good
> community project. I suppose it would be similar in structure to other
> databases but w/ multiple different notes fields and one for who
> authored each note.

See above!

databasing wine notes
 

I'll take this one as UC Lite---The only data bases are from Italy about
Italian wine & food---if you're not matching another obscure wine with
pasta(no Pizza Hut or Chef Boyardee aka as dog food, you're a candidate for
an old style knee capping. ciao
"Doug Anderson" > wrote in message
...
> "Tom" > writes:
>
> > Hi,
> >
> > First I have a terrible memory, and think computers should do
> > everything for me, so I started typing all my notes into an excel
> > spreadsheet this summer, and seeing as I don't have classes in the
> > winter I am planning on expanding it. I was wondering what experiences
> > people have had with this. I know there is software for wine
> > databasing, but is there anything they provide that I cannot do myself
> > in Access?
>
> Consider cellertracker.com
>
> Pros:
> -access whenever you have net access, not just at your computer..
> -many wines are already entered - you can just do a quick search
> rather than typing in detailed information. This makes entering new
> purchases very fast.
> -ability to enter public tasting notes and private notes, and (FWIW)
> to see other people's public tasting notes and opinions about
> drinking window..
> -ability to upload your excel spreadsheet to cellartracker, and to
> download your cellar contents to an excel spreadsheet.
> -ability to make entries (and notes) for wines you have purchased but
> which have not yet arrived to your cellar.
> -ability to see average price paid for that wine by cellartracker
> users.
>
> -since it is free, you can easily register and try it for a bin or two
> of your cellar to see what you think.
>
> Cons:
> -free, but a modest annual fee is required to see some items
> (like the average price paid by other users).
> -need internet access to keep up to date.
> -some of the insulation in my cellar is foil-backed, and consequently
> I don't get WIFI in there.
>
> >
> > currently the fields i have a
> > name, vintage, varietals, country, region, price, notes, did I like it
> > y/n
> >
> > First I was probably going to switch from excel to access. I also want
> > to expand the varietals field, because as-is it doesn't lend well to
> > filtering by varietal. I am thinking I will make it "varietal 1, %,
> > varietal 2, %, 3, %, other varietals, %. That way I can search for all
> > 100% pinot noirs, or all >90% cabs, etc. Does anyone use a different
> > method that may work better?
>
> This gets complicated. Look at what cellartracker does. They've
> thought about it some, and it seems sensible.
> >
> > are there any more fields that would be useful, I don't really have the
> > income for cellaring wines yet.
> >
> > Finally, this idea is a bit utopian but has anyone considered using
> > google's feature where you can have a database stored online that group
> > members can edit for an afw TN database? the FAQ seemed to be a good
> > community project. I suppose it would be similar in structure to other
> > databases but w/ multiple different notes fields and one for who
> > authored each note.
>
> See above!

databasing wine notes
 

> Finally, this idea is a bit utopian but has anyone considered using
> google's feature where you can have a database stored online that group
> members can edit for an afw TN database? the FAQ seemed to be a good
> community project. I suppose it would be similar in structure to other
> databases but w/ multiple different notes fields and one for who
> authored each note.
>

I am a software developer and I been doing some work with Google Maps.
I am putting together a winery map of Northern Sonoma County
http://www.mikeutterback.net/wine.html. If you go to that page and
click on a winery you will see a comments tab, let's say you could add
a comment about a certain wine or winery and have that information
stored to a central database. For lack of a better phrase a wine blog.

Note: I do live in Windsor CA, but I am not a wine drinker so please
excuse my wine ignorance.

Mike Utterback
www.mikeutterback.net

databasing wine notes
 

On 14 Dec 2006 14:04:40 -0800, Doug Anderson
> wrote:

>Consider cellertracker.com

Surprised more people are not singing cellartracker's praises here. I
don't use it myself (I use text files!) but it is very popular. Just
on that basis I would certainly reccommend you take a look.

--
Steve Slatcher
http://pobox.com/~steve.slatcher

databasing wine notes
 

In article >,
Ed Rasimus > wrote:

> On 14 Dec 2006 09:51:30 -0800, "Tom" > wrote:
>
> >Hi,
> >
> >First I have a terrible memory, and think computers should do
> >everything for me, so I started typing all my notes into an excel
> >spreadsheet this summer, and seeing as I don't have classes in the
> >winter I am planning on expanding it. I was wondering what experiences
> >people have had with this. I know there is software for wine
> >databasing, but is there anything they provide that I cannot do myself
> >in Access?
> >
> >currently the fields i have a
> >name, vintage, varietals, country, region, price, notes, did I like it
> >y/n
> >
> >First I was probably going to switch from excel to access. I also want
> >to expand the varietals field, because as-is it doesn't lend well to
> >filtering by varietal. I am thinking I will make it "varietal 1, %,
> >varietal 2, %, 3, %, other varietals, %. That way I can search for all
> >100% pinot noirs, or all >90% cabs, etc. Does anyone use a different
> >method that may work better?
> >
> >are there any more fields that would be useful, I don't really have the
> >income for cellaring wines yet.
> >
> >Finally, this idea is a bit utopian but has anyone considered using
> >google's feature where you can have a database stored online that group
> >members can edit for an afw TN database? the FAQ seemed to be a good
> >community project. I suppose it would be similar in structure to other
> >databases but w/ multiple different notes fields and one for who
> >authored each note.
> >
> >as always thanks for the replies
> >-tomw
>
> This is sort of a FAQ-level question, i.e. one that comes up with
> regularity. And, I usually throw a couple of cents worth in, since in
> my past life I did software/shareware reviews for ZDNet and one area
> that was assigned to me was food & wine software.
>
> Unless you are big into do-it-yourself stuff, it is much easier to go
> with a commerical software product for maintaining a wine database.
> Those folks have done the brain-storming and then the grunt-work to
> put together products that do what most oenophiles want done.
>
> My favorite has long been "Cellar!"
> http://www.cellarwinesoftware.com/
> I watched it go through several iterations from a fairly database
> oriented cataloging product written on the Access DB engine to the
> current version which nicely integrates online features so that you
> can share TNs, update vineyards & wineries, monitor auction prices,
> and really fine tune your interface.
>
> Whether you keep only a few bottles around or several thousand, the
> program helps you organize your experience. Enter a wine and the
> software provides you auto-completion and drop-down lists to help you
> entries. If, for example, a winery is not found, it lets you query the
> online DB and it then offers listings of similar producers/negociants.
>
> When you taste (drink) the wine, you can enter your comments and the
> software lets you keep them indefinitely. Display can quickly shift
> from current inventory to "zero" level where you can go through all of
> the wines that you've ever entered. Number of bottles, varietals,
> costs, maturation profiles, etc. etc.
>
> There are other products around, such as Parker's software, but they
> haven't convinced me that they offer more. Parker, many folks feel is
> simply flogging his own tastes and giving the user a DB of his
> ratings rather than a true cellar management application.
>
> Look around at some shareware sites or simply Google wine software and
> take some existing products for a test drive before you wear out your
> enthusiasm building your own app.
>
> Ed Rasimus
> Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
> "When Thunder Rolled"
> www.thunderchief.org
> www.thundertales.blogspot.com

Then there is the $8000 computer from Frontgate.

databasing wine notes
 

Ed Rasimus wrote:

> This is sort of a FAQ-level question, i.e. one that comes up with
> regularity.

I agree Ed. Any objection if I adapt your post(s) for inclusion in the FAQ?

Mark Lipton

databasing wine notes
 

On Fri, 15 Dec 2006 10:36:17 -0500, Mark Lipton >
wrote:

>Ed Rasimus wrote:
>
>> This is sort of a FAQ-level question, i.e. one that comes up with
>> regularity.
>
>I agree Ed. Any objection if I adapt your post(s) for inclusion in the FAQ?
>
>Mark Lipton

Can't think of any grounds for objection. Be my guest.

Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
www.thunderchief.org
www.thundertales.blogspot.com

databasing wine notes
 

I suggest you not re-invent the wheel - I use
www.manageyourcellar.com ---it's free, rich with good features, and I can
export the data into a csv file and then use excel to paly with it as
needed.

Of particualr value - often my wine entries are made whiel I'm on the road -
by using an online tool, I can still do that.

databasing wine notes
 

Another vote for CellarTracker. I used Cellar! for several years, but
CellarTracker does everything I liked about Cellar! but much better.
And from your description it pretty much does everything you're
looking for.

The common database of wines and tasting notes makes it extremely
useful and easy to use. Out of the 250 or so unique wines I've
entered, I don't think I've had more than 2-3 that weren't already
there, so normally it's a matter of searching on one word in the wine
name, and then clicking on the specific vintage of the correct wine
and adding however may bottles you want to your inventory.

And when you pull up any wine in your list (or search for any wine at
all), you automatically get other user's tasting notes.

I used to be more concerned about my database being on someone else's
server, but those feelings changed when my Cellar! database crashed
and I lost the previous year's entries. And you can always download a
copy of your data from CellarTracker.

dale m


On 14 Dec 2006 14:04:40 -0800, Doug Anderson
> wrote:
>
>Consider cellertracker.com
>
>Pros:
>-access whenever you have net access, not just at your computer..
>-many wines are already entered - you can just do a quick search
> rather than typing in detailed information. This makes entering new
> purchases very fast.
>-ability to enter public tasting notes and private notes, and (FWIW)
> to see other people's public tasting notes and opinions about
> drinking window..
>-ability to upload your excel spreadsheet to cellartracker, and to
> download your cellar contents to an excel spreadsheet.
>-ability to make entries (and notes) for wines you have purchased but
> which have not yet arrived to your cellar.
>-ability to see average price paid for that wine by cellartracker
> users.
>
>-since it is free, you can easily register and try it for a bin or two
> of your cellar to see what you think.
>
>Cons:
>-free, but a modest annual fee is required to see some items
> (like the average price paid by other users).
>-need internet access to keep up to date.
>-some of the insulation in my cellar is foil-backed, and consequently
> I don't get WIFI in there.
>