(BI) - There are more wine apps out there than anyone could possibly want — or need. The iTunes and Google Play app stores each contain hundreds of apps for oenophiles: tasting logs, wine pairing services, review databases, educational services, and many others.

But which ones are really useful? As a longtime wine collector, I decided to try as many as I could, and found three that stood out. These apps, which combine the concept of a tasting log with social networking features, also allow for instant identification through using your phone’s camera, and comparison pricing.

1. Delectable is best for following “wine celebs” and living vicariously off of their tasting notes (available for Android and iPhone).

Delectable had the best label recognition of the three favorites and, for me, had the most people actively uploading wines to the platform. These include numerous wine writers and sommeliers like Ray Isle of Food & Wine magazine and Jay McInerney, novelist and wine writer for Town & Country.

Following these writers can induce extreme wine envy, so beware. McInerney in particular seems to regularly drink wines that most people would consider a once-in-a-life-time experience (see the image above for one such example.) 

Pros: Delectable has the fastest and most accurate image matching, the most experts to follow, and a ratings system that allows for the most granularity of measurement.

Cons: The app often had more expensive prices on wines than others in the category for e-commerce. And it's not currently available for Windows Phone. 

2. Vivino is best for people who dine out at restaurants with extensive wine lists (available for Android, iPhone, and Windows).

Vivino performs well against its comparative set, though it doesn’t have as many wine experts regularly using the service, and its image matching was slightly less reliable than Delectable’s service. 

This app is your best choice if you dine out regularly at high-end restaurants. Your location data allows Vivino to point you to restaurant wine lists in your immediate area (see photo at right).

From there, it will also provide data on the wines on those lists. If you’re the type of person who studies the wine lists of restaurants before you visit, this is very helpful.

The app can also help you navigate large wine lists, and provides a valuable second opinion when deciding on a specific bottle.    

Pros: Vivino shows wine lists near you, as well as many “verified wine lists” (at least in New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago, where I tested it). Its premium features pull in ratings subscriptions and additional information, and it's the only app in this category available for Windows Mobile.