H ave you brought your wine drinking into the digital age?

What do I mean? Well, the relentless onslaught of smart phones and tablet devices such as the iPad has spawned literally hundreds of apps that help our understanding and appreciation of wine.

A quick search of the App Store threw up 452 for the iPad alone and another 1,440 for the iPhone. Many are free; others relatively cheap.

You don't have to be a wine aficionado and toss around words like "bouquet," "tannin" and "terroir" to appreciate a fine glass of grape. But as with everything, a little knowledge can go a long way. And these apps can certainly help or, perhaps even more importantly, stimulate our will to experiment.

One that I like is from Berry Bros & Rudd – Britain's oldest wine and spirit merchant, having traded from the same shop in London's St James's for more than 311 years.

Its app can be downloaded for the iPad and iPhone for free and not only does it help you to search and buy online from their list of more than 2,000 wines, it also gives you access to a virtual wine school, with food and wine matching tips and tasting techniques.

Another good free app, this time for the iPhone only, is the Majestic Wine Academy, provi- ded by retailers Majestic. Here you'll find stacks of info about countries and their wines, plus fun quizzes as a way of increasing your knowledge.

But beware in this digital "jungle" – far too many of the apps turn out to be American- based and although they prom- ise much that would interest us, they don't deliver simply because they are not progra- mmed for the UK market.

But you will have fun, sorting the good from the bad.

Talking of tablet devices, some of the UK's fine dining restaurants such as the Vineyard at Stockcross, several Gordon Ramsay restaurants and the Hotel du Vin chain are using the iPad as a wine list that diners can browse when ordering wine. Vineyard head sommelier Yohann Jousselin said it gives guests a better opportunity to look at their long wine list and access their preferences without replacing interaction with the sommelier. It's a trend happening on a worldwide scale in New York, Argentina, Italy, Spain and even in France. But it's also one embraced locally – Marco Ciuffetelli at the Millhouse, Skidby, introduced iPads on the bar of his new Champagne bar a couple of months ago and it's proving a real hit.

Where: Lidl

When: Now, until Wednesday

Why: Good, well- balanced Champagne that's easy and enjoyable to drink. Good value for money.

£12.99 (was £14.99)

Where: Tesco

When: Now until February 21

Why: Pinot Noir is a natural choice for some of the latest culinary trends. This Chilean example is fresh, elegant and aromatically intense.

£5.99 (was £7.49)

Where: Tesco

When: Now, until February 21

Why: An early taste of summer in a glass – delightful flavours of berries and cherries with a fresh, crisp finish.

£4.99 (was £9.99)