WINE ME Unveils Innovations at SOMM'UP 2026: Smart Tasting Cards and Mats

On March 16, 2026, WINE ME participated in the 5th edition of SOMM'UP, the wine professionals' exhibition organized by the Association of Sommeliers of Nice Côte d'Azur Provence (ASNCAP), at the Casino Terrazur in Cagnes-sur-Mer. A true gathering for sommeliers, wine merchants, restaurateurs, hoteliers, and winemakers, the exhibition once again confirmed its role as an essential platform for discovering industry innovations.

On this occasion, WINE ME presented several major new products that mark a new stage in the evolution of its educational universe and  its wine casino.

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A new generation of WINE ME cards

One of the major innovations of this edition was the launch of new collections of WINE ME cards dedicated to:

• Burgundy
• Champagne
• Provence
• France

These new editions make it possible to discover French wine regions in a fun way while deepening one's knowledge of appellations, grape varieties, and the specific characteristics of each terroir.

But this new generation of cards goes even further.

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Cards are now smart

WINE ME cards are now becoming Smart.

In addition to the educational booklet that accompanies each game and explains all the symbols on the cards, each box now includes a Smart Card equipped with a QR Code.

By scanning it, players immediately access an online platform offering much richer content:

• detailed fact sheets on grape varieties;
• additional information on wine regions;
• explanations of the symbols on the cards;
• regularly updated educational resources;
• exclusive content directly accessible from a smartphone.

This evolution allows WINE ME to offer an experience that continues long after the game ends.

Discover the different WINE ME card collections:

WINE ME card collection

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Tasting mats also become smart

Another innovation presented at SOMM'UP 2026: the new WINE ME Smart tasting mats for any wine casino experiences.

Rather than printing a large volume of information directly on the mats, WINE ME opted for a more modern approach.

Players simply scan the QR Codes integrated into the mat to instantly access all the necessary explanations during the game.

They can find, among other things:

• characteristics of the main grape varieties;
• explanations of the game's progress;
• tasting rules;
• tips for identifying wines;
• educational fact sheets accessible in a few seconds.

This solution allows content to be kept constantly up to date while offering a much smoother experience.

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Discover the exclusive "Hot Grapes 50/50" system

Among the most popular new features is the new Hot Grapes 50/50 system.

With this feature, the host selects two grape varieties from which players must make their choice.

This method allows for:

• facilitating beginner progression;
• encouraging learning by comparison;
• better memorization of each grape variety's characteristics;
• increasing chances of success while maintaining the enjoyment of the challenge.

The Hot Grapes 50/50 system transforms each tasting into a true educational experience, suitable for both amateurs and professionals.

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An increasingly connected experience

With these new features, WINE ME continues its ambition to offer increasingly interactive tasting tools.

By combining physical supports, digital content, and pedagogy, the new smart cards and mats offer a complete experience that accompanies players before, during, and after each tasting.

This approach perfectly illustrates WINE ME's philosophy: making wine learning more accessible, more immersive, and more lively.

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SOMM'UP 2026: a successful launch

The SOMM'UP 2026 exhibition provided the ideal setting to present these innovations to an audience of sommeliers, restaurateurs, wine merchants, wineries, and industry professionals.

The numerous discussions throughout the day confirmed the growing interest in modern educational tools capable of combining tasting, gaming, and digital technologies.

WINE ME thus continues to develop the wine casino and its innovative solutions to offer a new way to learn, share, and experience the wine.