Comparison

WSET Tasting Notes vs Barrel Town

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

WSET Tasting Notes

This app helps wine enthusiasts and professionals create structured and consistent tasting notes. It's based on a globally recognized systematic approach to tasting, offering features like a comprehensive descriptor lexicon and blind tasting mode.

Highlights
  • Structured tasting note creation
  • WSET Systematic Approach to Tasting® (SAT) methodology
  • Database of wine countries and regions
  • Pre-populated grape varieties
  • Aroma and flavour descriptor lexicon
  • Blind tasting mode
  • Searchable tasting notes
Features
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Whether you’re a wine enthusiast tasting for pleasure or a drinks professional tasting for work, this app helps you create and store structured and consistent tasting notes for wines. Brought to you by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) — the largest wine education provider in the world — the app is based on our globally recognised Systematic Approach to Tasting® (SAT) at Level 2. Note: This app does not form part of the WSET® Level 2 Award in Wines course. However it is a useful tool for both current and former WSET students at all levels. Never been a WSET student? No problem! The app is a great tool for all wine tasters, complete with useful tips on how to record your notes. The app also provides a great taster of the skills you can expect to acquire through WSET courses. What’s included: • The only wine tasting app endorsed by the world’s leading provider of wine education • A database of over 300 wine producing countries and regions • Over 100 pre-populated grape varieties • A comprehensive lexicon of commonly used aroma and flavour descriptors • Pro tips to guide you through the app • Ability to record notes in “blind” tasting mode • In line with updates to the new Level 2 Award in Wines, record primary, secondary and tertiary aroma and flavour characteristics • Search through your stored tasting notes • Upload a photo to your wine notes • Simple, easy to use interface to record and store your tasting notes What is the Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine? The Systematic Approach to Tasting® (SAT) is a method of note taking developed by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust to make tasting notes more objective and comparable. The methodology breaks down the evaluation of wine, spirits or sake into appearance, nose, palate and conclusion, supported by universal terminology. The SAT is published at four progressive levels of difficulty in support of the four levels WSET qualifications available. This app has been built for wines at level two making it suitable for those who are new to the SAT method as well as those that have completed WSET courses. A systematic approach to tasting provides wine tasters with a foundation on which to build and develop their skills. The SAT forms an integral part of all WSET courses. The Wine & Spirit Education Trust Founded in 1969, the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) is the largest global provider of wine, spirits and sake qualifications. Trusted by the world’s most recognised drinks organisations, WSET has led the design and delivery of wine and spirit education for five decades and since 2004 over half a million candidates have taken a WSET qualification. With four progressive levels of study offered through a network of course providers in more than 70 countries and translated into multiple languages, WSET qualifications inspire and empower drinks professionals and enthusiasts. To find out more about WSET, visit wsetglobal.com.

About

Barrel Town

Features
Read full description

Our store is the next wave in a truly unique adult beverage purchasing experience. Our highly trained, professional staff is always on hand, and ready to answer any questions you may have concerning your purchase. At our store, you will experience the selection and pricing that you have come to expect from large retailers, while, at the same time, enjoying the service and intimacy of smaller boutique stores. With the best selection in the immediate area, we are sure that we have everything you need and want. Cheers!

Screenshots

WSET Tasting Notes4 screens
Barrel Town4 screens

Verdict

The call

WSET Tasting Notes and Barrel Town are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

WSET Tasting Notes ships an update every 8 months, Barrel Town every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
WSET Tasting Notes versus Barrel Town: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWSET Tasting NotesBarrel Town
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.9 (17 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews35.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings17 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsEvery 6 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS12.1 — better13
Further details — not scored
Size63 MB134 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperWine & Spirit Education TrustParth Ventures LLC

In-app purchases

None

WSET Tasting Notes

No in-app purchases

None

Barrel Town

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is WSET Tasting Notes free?
WSET Tasting Notes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Barrel Town free?
Barrel Town is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do WSET Tasting Notes or Barrel Town have ads?
Neither WSET Tasting Notes nor Barrel Town shows ads.
Which is updated more often, WSET Tasting Notes or Barrel Town?
WSET Tasting Notes ships an update every 8 months, and Barrel Town every 6 months. Most recently, WSET Tasting Notes was updated on October 22, 2026 and Barrel Town on October 27, 2026.

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