Photos: Tesco taps visual search for Wine Finder iPhone app

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A fine vintage or a bottle of cheap plonk? Just ask your iPhone...

Retail giant Tesco has launched an iPhone app that uses image recognition technology to ease the path to finding a decent bottle of wine. The app makers claim it's the first 'visual search' app available.

Tesco Wine Finder uses the phone's camera to enable iPhone users to retrieve information about a bottle of wine simply by snapping the label (as shown above). The free app uses visual search technology from Imperial College spin-out, Cortexica Vision Systems, which partnered with Tesco to build Wine Finder.

Image credit: Tesco Wine Finder

Published: December 21, 2009 -- 16:21 GMT (08:21 PST)
Caption by: Natasha Lomas
After the user has snapped the label they are presented with information about the bottle of wine - such as its grape, style and vintage, along with more detailed information about the history, wine maker and region - where available.

The app's database contains more than 1,000 wines and Champagnes.

Image credit: Tesco Wine Finder

Published: December 21, 2009 -- 16:21 GMT (08:21 PST)
Caption by: Natasha Lomas
Users are able to buy the wine directly on their iPhone.

Image credit: Tesco Wine Finder

Published: December 21, 2009 -- 16:21 GMT (08:21 PST)
Caption by: Natasha Lomas
The app also has a wine discovery feature (pictured above) - allowing iPhone owners to find new tipple by defining a set of search criteria - including colour, country, price and the type of food it is to accompany.

Image credit: Tesco Wine Finder

Published: December 21, 2009 -- 16:21 GMT (08:21 PST)
Caption by: Natasha Lomas