On Tuesday, March 25th, we staged what might be the first-ever AI versus human sommelier blind tasting challenge at Cantina del Gio. Our diverse tasting panel included wine industry professionals, restaurant staff, and casual wine drinkers who would evaluate six dishes paired with two different wines each—one from Cantina's sommelier and one from Sommly.
No one knew which wine came from which source, creating a truly blind test of expertise versus algorithm.
The Tasting Challenge
"I think it's possible, but I just don't know how good AI can be at something like this," one participant said before we started. Another shrugged, "Pairing makes sense because there's science to it, but it's also subjective. We'll see how it goes."
Most understood intellectually that AI could handle wine pairing, but actually tasting the results would be the real test. As each course arrived, from burrata salad to handmade uni pasta to truffle risotto, the room filled with animated discussion. Both selections consistently impressed, but in different ways. The competition was clearly going to be close.
It became apparent that human sommeliers face certain inherent challenges. The sommelier, who personally didn't enjoy seafood, struggled with the uni pasta pairing. Meanwhile, Sommly evaluated every dish objectively, without personal taste biases affecting its recommendations.
What was fascinating: all three groups—industry pros, restaurant staff, and casual drinkers—voted remarkably similarly across rounds. Good pairings, it seems, transcend expertise levels.
The Results: A Major Victory
As the final votes were tallied, a hush fell over the room. The results? Sommly had won five of the six rounds, with one tie. Even we were shocked—we'd hoped for a 50-50 split at best.
This wasn't just a win; it was a statement about what's possible when we harness technology intelligently. But it also wasn't about replacing human expertise—it was about finding its perfect complement.
"I rely on memory, recommendations, and honestly, a lot of educated guessing. There's simply not enough time to taste everything."
The Three Pillars of a Sommelier's Craft
To understand why this matters, consider the three core functions of a sommelier:
Tasting
Using sensory expertise to evaluate wines and understand their characteristics.
Selection
Researching and choosing from thousands of options which wines to include in a program.
Hospitality
Connecting with guests, understanding preferences, and creating memorable experiences.
Our experiment showed that while AI can excel at selection (arguably the most tedious part), the complete sommelier experience still needs the human touch. The selection aspect—sifting through catalogs of 5,000-10,000 bottles—is where technology offers the most significant advantage.
The Magic of Pairing
It became apparent that pairing itself creates magic regardless of who does it.
When casual drinkers were introduced to pairing, they became instantly more engaged. "I never really pay attention to why wines go with foods," one participant admitted. "But when you're told it's a pairing, you start looking for the connection, and everything tastes better."
The simple act of focusing attention on how flavors interact elevated everyone's experience. When people deliberately sought the relationship between dish and wine, flavors became more pronounced—consistently across all participant groups.
Building a Better Future Together
When we stop seeing AI and human expertise as competitors, exciting possibilities emerge. Sommeliers can focus on the enjoyable aspects of their role—tasting and hospitality—while AI handles the research. Restaurants boost revenue without additional staff, with our clients consistently seeing wine sales increase 2-3x after implementing Sommly. Customers discover new favorites through more consistent, educational experiences.
"I could actually use this. Not to replace what I do, but to expand it."
That's exactly what we're building—tools where AI handles tedious research while human creativity and connection flourish. In a way, using AI allows us to be more human. By removing the overwhelming burden of selection, we create space for deeper connections at the table.
The True Winner: Enhanced Dining Experiences
Because ultimately, wine isn't just about tasting notes and perfect pairings—it's about the memories created when sharing a bottle. It's about the stories told, the laughter shared, and the moments that stay with us long after the meal ends. When technology handles the complexity behind the scenes, humans can focus on what matters most: connecting with each other.
The true winner of our challenge wasn't Sommly or the sommelier, but everyone who left the table that night with a full stomach, a satisfied palate, and memories of an evening spent in good company. That's the future we're working toward—one where technology and humanity together create experiences that remind us what dining is really about: coming together.
After all, the perfect pairing has always been about creating something greater than the sum of its parts.
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