COMPUTERIZED `TONGUE' TASTES WINE

COMPUTERIZED `TONGUE' TASTES WINE

LINZ, Austria (Wireless Flash) -- Snooty wine tasting experts are about to be replaced by a robot. An Austrian scientist has invented a computerized wine- tasting machine that can determine the type, vintage and region of any wine when a few drops of vino are placed inside it. Chemist Wolfgang Buchberger admits his artificial wine- tasting tongue is somewhat limited at this point, but he predicts his invention could one day replace human wine tasters. However, Gladys Horiuchi of the California-based Wine Institute, says she doubts a computerized wine swiller could ever duplicate the complexity of human taste buds. Also skeptical is Michael Martini of the Louis M. Martini Winery in Napa Valley, He says he can't see why any vintner would rely on a computer to taste its wine because tasting is the most fun part of the wine-making process.

CONTACT: Professor Buchberger doesn't speak English; Gladys Horiuchi, ***; San Francisco, CA; (415) 356-7525; Michael Martini, ***; St. Helena, CA; (707) 963-2736, ext. 30