About Sommo

Last updated: February 24, 2026

The Story Behind Sommo

Sommo was born from a simple observation: wine is intimidating for most people, but it doesn’t have to be.

I’m Gökhan, a software engineer based in London, UK. Like many people, I found myself standing in wine shops feeling completely lost. The labels were confusing, the terminology was overwhelming, and asking for help felt embarrassing. I wanted to learn about wine, but traditional resources felt either too basic or too pretentious.

So I decided to build the app I wished existed.

Built by a Solo Developer

Sommo is an indie app, which means designed and developed entirely by one person. Every feature, every line of code, every pixel has been crafted with care. This isn’t a venture-backed startup racing to hit growth metrics; it’s a passion project built to genuinely help people enjoy wine more.

Being a solo developer means I can focus on what actually matters: creating a thoughtful, well-designed experience that respects your time and intelligence. No dark patterns, no aggressive monetization, no bloat. Just a useful tool for learning about wine.

The AI Behind Sommo

One of the most exciting parts of building Sommo was developing its AI capabilities. Rather than simply using off-the-shelf models, I trained a custom wine-focused AI model to power the app’s label scanning and wine knowledge features.

You can read the full story of how I initially built Sommo-7B-v1, a fine-tuned AI model specifically designed to understand wine, in my blog post: Building an AI Model for Wine.

The model was trained on carefully curated wine knowledge to provide accurate, helpful information when you scan a wine label or ask questions about wine. It’s designed to be knowledgeable without being pretentious—like having a friendly sommelier in your pocket.

The Philosophy

Wine should be accessible. You don’t need to spend years studying or pouring a lot of money on courses to appreciate good wine. Sommo breaks down complex topics into digestible lessons that fit into your daily life.

Learning should be enjoyable. Wine is meant to be fun. The gamified approach keeps you motivated with XP, levels, and achievements as you progress from Curious Sipper to Master Sommelier.

Technology should help, not overwhelm. AI-powered features like label scanning give you instant insights, but the app never makes you feel dependent on technology. The goal is to build your own knowledge and confidence.

What Makes Sommo Different

Unlike social wine apps focused on ratings and reviews, Sommo is built for learning. It is not trying to tell you what to drink; it is trying to help you understand why you like what you like.

  • Structured Learning Path: Progress through modules on wine basics, regions, grape varieties, and tasting techniques
  • AI-Powered Label Scanner: Point your camera at any wine label for instant information and tasting notes
  • Personal Wine Journal: Track your wine journey and discover patterns in your preferences
  • Interactive Region Map: Explore wine regions worldwide with detailed information about terroir, climate, and signature styles

See How Sommo Compares

Curious how Sommo stacks up against other wine apps? See our detailed comparisons with Vivino, CellarTracker, Wine-Searcher, and more. Or explore how Sommo is built for wine beginners, WSET students, wine collectors, and restaurant diners.

Get in Touch

Have questions, feedback, or just want to chat about wine? I’d love to hear from you.

Sommo is proudly made in London with love for wine and technology.