Methods and apparatus for classifying and selecting wine

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are provided for classifying wine in terms of fruit and non-fruit flavors. A first scale is provided for scoring wine in terms of fruit flavor, and a second scale is provided for scoring wine in terms of non-fruit flavor. The first and second scales may be displayed in a two-dimensional chart, and the fruit and non-fruit scores of particular wines may be displayed on the chart to visually communicate wine flavor information.

1 . A method for characterizing a wine, the method comprising: 
 providing a first scale for scoring wine in terms of relative levels of fruit flavor;    providing a second scale for scoring wine in terms of relative levels of non-fruit flavor;    assigning the wine a first score on the first scale; and    assigning the wine a second score on the second scale.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first scale comprises a third score that corresponds to a relatively low level of fruit flavor, and a fourth score that corresponds to a relatively high level of fruit flavor.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein assigning the first score comprises assigning the wine the first score between the third and fourth scores.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second scale comprises a fifth score that corresponds to a relatively low level of non-fruit flavor, and a sixth score that corresponds to a relatively high level of non-fruit flavor.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein assigning the second score comprises assigning the wine the second score between the fifth and sixth scores.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising recording the first and second scores.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the wine comprises a non-flavor characteristic, and the method further comprises recording the non-flavor characteristic with the first and second scores.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising visually communicating the first and second scores.  
   
   
       9 . A method for characterizing a first wine, the method comprising: 
 providing a chart comprising a first axis for scoring wine in terms of relative levels of fruit flavor, and a second axis for scoring wine in terms of relative levels of non-fruit flavor;    dividing the chart into a plurality of regions, each region corresponding to a unique combination of relative levels of fruit and non-fruit flavors; and    assigning the first wine to a first one of the regions.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of regions comprise a first region that corresponds to a relatively low level of fruit flavor and a relatively low level of non-fruit flavor, a second region that corresponds to a relatively low level of fruit flavor and a relatively high level of non-fruit flavor, a third region that corresponds to a relatively high level of fruit flavor and a relatively low level of non-fruit flavor, and a fourth region that corresponds to a relatively high level of fruit flavor and a relatively high level of non-fruit flavor.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second axes divide the cart into four quadrants, and the plurality of regions comprise a region that overlaps a plurality of the quadrants.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising assigning a second wine to a second one of the regions based on the fruit and non-fruit flavors of the second wine relative to the fruit and non-fruit flavors of the first wine.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first one of the regions and the second one of the regions are the same region.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first one of the regions and the second one of the regions are different regions.  
   
   
       15 . Apparatus for characterizing wine, the apparatus comprising: 
 a processor;    a memory device operatively coupled to the processor, the memory device storing a software program structured to cause the processor to:    display a chart comprising a first axis for scoring wine in terms of relative levels of fruit flavor, and a second axis for scoring wine in terms of relative levels of non-fruit flavor;    receive a first score for a first wine on the first scale and a second score for the first wine on the second scale;    associate a first reference mark with the first wine; and    plot the first reference mark on the chart based on the first and second scores.    
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the first reference mark comprises a first characteristic uniquely associated with the first wine.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the first reference mark comprises a second characteristic that may be used to communicate non-flavor information about the first wine.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the non-flavor information comprises any one of color, vintage, growing region, grape variety, price, quality or vintner.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the software program is further structured to cause the processor to: 
 receive a plurality of first scores on the first scale for a plurality of wines, and a plurality of second scores on the second scale for the plurality of wines;    associate a second reference mark with the plurality of wines; and    plot the second reference mark on the chart based on the plurality of first scores and the plurality of second scores.    
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of wines comprise a category of wine.