Sommelier on Demand
Skip the guessing. Drink what the somm drinks.
250 distinct bottles that Bottles Nation Co-Founder & Sommelier Michael Bottigliero has personally poured and vouched for across thousands of tasting events - with his own note on every single wine.
Just ask. In your own words.
Ask like you'd ask any AI. The difference: every answer comes from the 250 wines Michael has personally poured, tasted, and vouched for - with his own note on each.
No snobbery. Just wines worth drinking.
Michael Bottigliero has spent years behind the bottle - pouring at thousands of tasting events, coaching first-timers and steering regulars toward something better. He built this list one wine at a time. Michael wrote a personal note on every one of these 250 wines.
His favorite bottle on the planet? Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore - ask him about it.
Here's the deal.
Somewhere along the way, picking a bottle of wine turned into a pop quiz - regions, vintages, tasting notes that read like a poetry slam. I've poured for thousands of people, and I'll let you in on the secret: at the table, nobody cares about any of that. People just want a bottle that tastes great with dinner and doesn't blow the budget.
So that's what this is. Tell me what you're eating, what you like, what you want to spend - and I'll show you the bottles I've actually poured at my tasting events and vouched for. No scores, no jargon, no unicorn bottles you'll never find. I wrote the note on every single wine.
Drink what tastes good. That's the only rule.
- Michael
“I like it” is a tasting note
No wrong answers here.
Price ≠ quality
Some of Michael's favorite bottles are under $15.
No treasure hunt
Every bottle here is at your local shop.
Behind the bottle, with the people
Bring Michael to your next event
Bottles Nation hosts guided tastings: wine, craft beer, whiskey & spirits, cocktails and mocktails - virtually nationwide and in person across Metro Detroit and Chicagoland. Corporate teams, living-room parties and everything in between.
The approach: no snobbery, no intimidation - just helping people enjoy what's in the glass. Every bottle we pour can be bought at a local shop.
Tastings in Metro Detroit · Chicago · Virtual · Corporate
Or send a quick note
Fill this in and Michael will get back to you personally.
Questions people ask
What is Sommelier on Demand?
It's the collection of 250 distinct wines sommelier Michael Bottigliero has actually used at his real tasting events - bottles poured for real guests over thousands of events. Ask in your own words and you get 2-3 picks with his note on each one.
Is this AI or a real sommelier?
Every recommendation comes only from wines Michael has poured at his events. The AI just matches your ask to his event-tested list. The notes and takes on every bottle are his own words - not machine-generated.
How much do the wines cost?
Tiers run from under $15 to $50+, and many of Michael's favorites sit under $20. Every bottle on the list is one he has poured at events and is available at ordinary local shops. No cult wines, no allocations, nothing you have to hunt for.
Can Michael do a tasting for my event?
Yes. Bottles Nation runs guided tastings virtually anywhere, and in person across Metro Detroit and Chicagoland - corporate, weddings, private groups. Email michael@bottlesnation.com and he'll get back personally.
Is there a service that gives on-demand wine recommendations from a real person?
Yes. Sommelier on Demand gives you two or three wine picks in seconds, chosen only from the 250 bottles sommelier Michael Bottigliero has poured at his Bottles Nation events, each with his own note. For a longer conversation, you can contact Michael directly through Bottles Nation.
How can I get a sommelier recommendation right now?
Type what you're eating, your budget and what you usually like into the box at the top of this page. You'll get two or three bottles from Michael's list in seconds. Mention the sauce, not just the protein. It's what Michael pairs to, and it sharpens the picks.
Is Sommelier on Demand free?
Yes. Asking for picks is free, and there's no account or sign-up. You can email yourself the picks or add the app to your phone's home screen. Picks are never sponsored; every bottle is judged on quality alone.
Where can I buy the wines Michael recommends?
Every bottle on the list is a widely available wine you can find at ordinary local shops. Each pick links to Wine-Searcher to see which stores carry it near you, and to Google Shopping to compare online prices. Sommelier on Demand doesn't sell wine and isn't tied to any store.
How is this different from Vivino or an AI sommelier app?
AI and rating apps recommend from millions of wines using algorithms or crowd scores, including bottles nobody advising you has tasted. Sommelier on Demand only recommends wines Michael has personally poured at his events, with his own note on each. The AI just matches your question to his list.
Who created Sommelier on Demand?
Sommelier on Demand was created by Blagica Bottigliero, co-founder of Bottles Nation and founder of Zlato Labs. Every wine pick and note comes from her husband and Bottles Nation co-founder Michael Bottigliero, a WSET Advanced sommelier who hosts tastings across Metro Detroit and Chicago.