App-etite: Pair it!

Wine and food pairings are a tricky business. Unless your knowledge of wine is encyclopedic, figuring out the perfect wine to complement your meal can induce a headache. For those of us without the training of a sommelier, there’s Pair It!, an easy-to-use, comprehensive food and wine guide for your smartphone. Created by Sonoma County Wine Country expert, chef and educator Bruce Riezenman, Pair It! allows users to discover novel food and wine pairings, as well as experiment with new combinations. Taking into account flavor bridges, tannin levels, acidity and elements of taste, the app’s detailed library includes over 20,000 potential food and wine pairings, and can match 180 wine varietals with more than 1,000 food items. Get quick-pick recommendations, plan your meals ahead of time with the built-in meal manager, and save your favorite combinations for future reference. You can even “swirl” food and wine choices to create utterly unique pairings. It’s like having a tiny wine snob in your pocket, telling you how to get the most out of your dining experience. $4.99 for iPhone, iPod Touch and Android.