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Thanks to AI tools like Perplexity and Claude choosing wine at a restaurant just got easier. I recently experimented with using Claude to help select a wine Amy, and I would enjoy. Here’s how you can use AI to make better wine choices at restaurants.
- Start with what’s available
- Share drink preferences
- Building your prompt
- Progressive knowledge building
- Wine-specific AI tools
Start with a photo of the wine list
The first step is simple – take a clear photo of the restaurant’s wine list. You can then upload this to an AI assistant like Perplexity or Claude for analysis. This gives the AI the exact options available, rather than getting generic recommendations. Make sure the photo is well-lit and clear enough to read all the text, including any descriptions of the wines. If the restaurant has a digital wine list, even better – copy and paste it directly into the conversation with the AI.
Read next: Different camera angles matter: How to make videos and livestreams stand out
Share specific drink preferences
The key to getting good recommendations is being specific about everyone’s drink preferences. In my AI conversation, I started by sharing my own preferences – gin and tonic, Jack and Diet Coke, and old-fashioneds. Then I added Amy’s preferences for Moscow Mules, Lemon Drop martinis, and margaritas.
What made this approach particularly effective was adding crucial details as they came up. For instance, when I mentioned that Amy doesn’t like dry wine, this significantly refined the AI recommendations. The more specific you can be about likes and dislikes, the better the recommendations will be.
When sharing preferences with AI, it’s valuable to include not just what drinks people enjoy, but also why they enjoy them. For instance, someone who likes Moscow Mules might enjoy the ginger-lime combination, while someone who prefers Old Fashioneds might appreciate complex, layered flavors. These details help the AI understand the underlying flavor preferences rather than just the drinks themselves.
Building your prompt
Here’s how I structured my conversation to get the best recommendations:
First prompt: I shared our basic drink preferences and asked for wine recommendations that would work for both of us. This established the baseline for the conversation.
Follow-up details: I added Amy’s specific cocktail preferences (Moscow Mule, Lemon Drop martini, margaritas).
Critical information: I mentioned Amy’s dislike of dry wine, which helped Claude further refine the suggestions. This kind of specific dislike can be just as important as preferences.
Add the food choices: If you know what you want to eat, add that into the mix and get the AI’s help to pair the win to your culinary choice.
The power of progressive disclosure
One effective aspect of using AI for wine selection is the ability to provide information progressively. You don’t need to share everything at once. Start with basic preferences and then add more details as the conversation develops. This allows the AI to refine its recommendations based on new information.
As I shared more details, recommendations became more targeted. The AI moved from suggesting basic options to more specific recommendations.
This refinement process showed how AI can adapt its suggestions based on new information. Each new detail helped narrow down the options to find wines that would truly satisfy both our preferences.
What worked well was the back-and-forth conversation with AI. When I felt the recommendations were skewing toward Amy’s preferences, I asked directly: “Are you just giving me stuff that Amy would like or how about myself?” This prompted the AI to reanalyze and provide more balanced suggestions that considered both our preferences.
This iterative approach is key to getting the best recommendations. Don’t hesitate to ask for clarification or point out if the suggestions seem imbalanced.
Final thoughts
Using AI to help choose wine at restaurants is surprisingly effective, especially when you provide detailed information about preferences and planned dishes. The key is being specific in your prompts and building on the conversation as you get recommendations. You can always ask the AI to explain its reasoning or adjust its suggestions if they don’t quite hit the mark.
By leveraging AI’s analytical capabilities and your own knowledge of preferences, you can make more informed wine choices that enhance your dining experience. The technology isn’t replacing sommeliers or wine experts – it’s providing another tool to help make better wine selections, especially when you’re dealing with different preferences and unfamiliar options.
