Designed for in the field use, the handheld device can distinguish substances characteristic of a certain wine variety. Devised of six sensors, the tongue can measure levels of acid, sugar and alcohol – without getting drunk. These factors are of no small importance to the world’s vintners, and the promise of a cheap alternative to timely and expensive lab processing will surely be welcomed.

Now they’ll have to find a new excuse to drink while on the job.

It strikes me as odd that it was invented in Spain. However, I’m sure that inventor Cecilia Jiménez-Jorquera and her colleagues from the Barcelona Institute of Microelectronics have no intention of actually taking the fun out of wine tasting. Next thing you know, they’ll be keeping regular hours over there.