Diners ordering a Chateau Haut Brion or Corlton Charlemagne in a restaurant could find themselves presented with a tablet computer, after it was revealed that restaurants are increasingly using smart devices to store wine lists.

The Aureole in Las Vegas was one of the first restaurants to launch its wine list on a handheld device, but others such as Bone's in Atlanta, The Greenhouse in Mayfair and South Gate in New York have also taken up the idea, according to the Drinks Business.

Some of the advantages for the customer are being able to see style, price, grape and food pairings at a glance, along with review scores and even tasting notes.

Although sommeliers may complain that the technology will make their jobs obsolete, Robert Reno of Bone's said many guests still prefer the human touch, gladly taking a word of advice from staff after choosing their wine.

Meanwhile, tech-savvy oenophiles were this month offered former Chateau Latour director Hugh Johnson's Pocket Wine Book as an iPhone app.