Knowing the difference between a stout and an ale, the best Malbec for your meal, which stinky cheese reigns supreme, and how to mix the perfect Manhattan is the height of cool. But what to do if your gourmet insights are limited? Try these apps to enhance your hosting.

NatDecants
iP, BB, AN | Free
Natalie MacLean, a world renowned drink reviewer, presents this inexplicably free compendium of over 380,000 food and wine pairings, thousands of reviews, and a cellar function that allows you to record your favourite purchases. Her reviews are amazingly detailed and helpful, and will ensure you enjoy every bottle you uncork.

Wine Snob
iP | $1.99
Not only can you search for reviews, log your wines and record everything about them, including tasting notes, but this app is equipped with GPS and geotagging for mapping your wines – especially helpful for remembering where you were after a long vineyard tour. Wine Snob is also full of ideas for food pairings to go with your new favourite wines.

iBeers Pro
iP | $3.99
There are so many different kinds of beer, it’s often hard to know if you’ll like whatever’s on tap. iBeers Pro has a 2,700-strong database of beer, as well as user ratings, which allow you to get up-to-date information on the microbrew you’re about to sample. Add your own beer to the growing database, to participate on a global scale – or just keep a log of what you like best.

BeerCloud
iP, AN | Free
If you want to learn more about a beer, and buy it immediately, this is the app for you. BeerCloud has insights into beer styles and flavours, and even what food each would pair best with, while also taking advantage of your phone’s GPS to find nearby stores stocking the brew you’re craving.

Cheese Guide Pocket Book
iP | $0.99
New to the wonderful world of cheese? This app will teach you everything you need to know to eat like a pro in no time. Cheese Guide Pocket Book has information on cheese basics, as well as over 450 varieties of cheese. It focuses on flavour and nuance, rather than branding.

Fromage
iP | $2.99
Everyone knows that cheese is delicious, but it might be difficult to decide which cheese is right for your dinner party. Fromage’s library of 750 cheeses includes tasting notes and pairing suggestions, as well as favourite lists and personalized additions. Never again will your cheese plate be lacking.

Salumi
iP | $1.99
Charcuterie is so popular these days that not knowing your mortadella from your bresola can be embarrassing. Fear not: Salumi is the app for you. It’s a comprehensive and easy-to-use guide to cured meats, from cuts of meats to spices and curing techniques.

iMalts
iP | $9.99
An amazing way to optimize your whiskey experience, iMalts is a glossary, a tasting-note diary, shopping guide and referral app all in one. You can add your own whiskeys, rate the ones you’ve already tried and work with their database to create a log of all the nuances of the malts in your collection.

iPairings
iP | $0.99
No one likes to drink the wrong wine with the right cheese, or face the awkwardness of serving rosé with beef stew. iPairings offers over 130 wine varietals and 1,400 food and cheese pairings, and the ability to filter by colour. The easy search options even take the guesswork out of ordering in restaurants.

PocketCocktails
iP | $0.99
If cocktails are more your thing, download Pocket Cocktails. It’s an enormous, fully illustrated guide to all the cocktails you could ever shake up. Look up recipes or use the “Random! Random!” shaker feature to experiment with something new.