Every Customer Deserves a Sommelier, Not a Search Bar
Wine and spirits are intimidating purchases for most people. They stand in the aisle staring at 200 labels they do not recognize. Mika asks what they are eating, what they like, and what they are spending, then points them to the right bottle.
Most wine buyers lack confidence in their own taste. They need guidance, not a bigger selection.
The Wine & Liquor Shops Website Problem
Customers Do Not Know What to Buy
A customer wants wine for a dinner party but does not know the difference between a Malbec and a Merlot. Your website lists 300 wines sorted by region. The customer needs someone to ask what they are serving and suggest a bottle that pairs well. Without that conversation, they buy the label they recognize or leave.
Gift Buyers Are Lost Without Guidance
Someone wants to buy a nice bottle of whiskey for their boss but has no idea what 'nice' means in whiskey. Is $50 enough? Is bourbon better than scotch for a gift? Should they get a gift set? They need a 2-minute conversation, not a category page with 80 options.
Tasting Events Go Under-Attended
You host wine tastings, spirit flights, and pairing dinners, but most website visitors never see them. Event details are buried on a calendar page or social media post. The customer browsing your Pinot Noir selection right now would love your upcoming Burgundy tasting, but nobody tells them about it.
Age Verification Leaves No Room for Conversation
Your website has an age gate. The customer clicks 'yes I am 21+' and lands on a product grid with no guidance. The age verification is necessary, but it replaces what should be a welcoming interaction with a legal formality. There is nothing on the other side to help them shop.
What Mika Does for Wine & Liquor Shops
Every feature is designed for how wine & liquor shops customers actually shop and buy.
Food and Wine Pairing
Mika asks what the customer is cooking or serving. Grilling steak? Here are three reds from your shelf that pair well. Making seafood pasta? A Vermentino or Pinot Grigio from your selection. Pairings come from your knowledge base, not generic databases.
Gift Set Recommendations
Mika asks about the recipient, the occasion, and the budget. 'Retirement gift for someone who likes bourbon, around $75' gets matched to your gift sets, premium bottles, or curated bundles.
Tasting Event Promotion
Configure your upcoming events in the knowledge base. When a customer browses a category or mentions wanting to learn more, Mika mentions your relevant tasting event and captures an RSVP.
Taste Preference Profiling
Mika asks what the customer usually drinks, whether they prefer dry or sweet, light or full-bodied. It uses those preferences to narrow your catalog to bottles they are likely to enjoy. This is the conversation your staff has in the store every day.
Occasion-Scaled Suggestions
Buying for a party of 20 is different from buying for date night. Mika asks about the occasion size and suggests quantities. It can recommend a case of your house wine for a large gathering or a single special bottle for an anniversary.
Product Knowledge on Demand
Tasting notes, region info, production methods, and vintage details from your knowledge base. When a customer asks 'what does biodynamic mean?' or 'why is this Barolo more expensive?', Mika gives them the answer your staff would give in-store.
Real Questions Your Customers Ask
These conversations happen on wine & liquor shops websites every day. Without Mika, every one ends with the customer leaving.
"I am making lamb chops tonight, what wine should I pair with it?"
Classic pairing question. Mika recommends full-bodied reds from your selection (Syrah, Cabernet, or a hearty Rioja) based on what you carry. The customer gets a specific bottle recommendation, not a generic Google result.
"I want to get into bourbon but I do not know where to start"
Beginner guidance. Mika asks about flavor preferences (sweet vs smoky, smooth vs spicy) and budget, then suggests an entry-level bottle from your shelf. It can mention your whiskey tasting event if you have one coming up.
"I need a gift for my father-in-law who drinks scotch, budget is around $100"
Gift purchase with specific parameters. Mika filters your scotch selection by price and suggests bottles appropriate for a gift. It can recommend a gift box or pairing accessory if you carry them.
"Do you have any natural wines or low-sulfite options?"
Dietary and preference-driven question. If your catalog tags natural or low-sulfite wines, Mika surfaces them. If you do not carry them, Mika says so honestly rather than suggesting something that does not match.
"We are hosting a wine and cheese night for 12 people, what do we need?"
Event planning question with quantity implications. Mika suggests a mix of red and white wines, recommends quantities (roughly 2 bottles per 3 guests for a tasting-style event), and can suggest cheese-friendly pairings from your selection.
"What is the difference between mezcal and tequila?"
Educational question. Mika explains the difference using your knowledge base content and then suggests bottles of each from your inventory. Customers who learn from you buy from you.
Conversations Informed by Psychology Research
Mika is not a generic chatbot with your product list attached. Every conversation is informed by psychology research on how people make purchasing decisions, continuously refined to guide shoppers from browsing to buying without ever feeling pushy.
Reads Shopper Intent
Mika identifies whether a visitor is browsing casually, searching for something specific, or ready to buy. Each conversation adapts to where the shopper is in their decision process.
Builds Trust Naturally
Shoppers buy from businesses they trust. Mika builds trust through helpful, honest recommendations instead of aggressive sales tactics. Visitors never feel sold to, they feel guided.
Guides to Action
Every conversation has a natural arc that moves shoppers from curiosity to commitment. Whether the action is sharing contact info, booking an appointment, or visiting your store, Mika creates a path that feels organic.
Mika's conversation strategy is developed with psychology research and continuously refined. Visitors interact with an AI that feels genuinely helpful, not a script disguised as conversation.
Wine & Liquor Shops: Before and After Mika
The same customers, the same questions, completely different outcomes.
Why Wine Shops Need a Conversation, Not a Catalog
The best wine shops are not the ones with the biggest selection. They are the ones where someone asks what you are cooking, what you normally drink, and how much you want to spend, then walks you to the right shelf. That 90-second interaction is why people drive past the supermarket to visit your shop. It is the reason you exist.
Your website cannot replicate that today. It shows a searchable list of wines organized by region or varietal, which is useful for someone who already knows what they want and useless for everyone else. The customer who types 'good red wine for dinner' into your search bar gets 80 results and no guidance.
Mika brings the in-store conversation to your website. It asks the same questions your best staff member asks, recommends bottles from your actual inventory, and mentions your upcoming tasting events to customers who would enjoy them. The result is a website that feels like walking into your shop and talking to someone who knows wine.
Retail Pricing
Plans built for retail stores with product catalogs. AI product search with photo cards, lead capture, and appointment booking included.
Starter
For stores getting started with product search in chat.
- ✓~100 conversations/month
- ✓Up to 500 SKUs
- ✓Product search in chat
- ✓Product cards with photos
- ✓Lead capture + email alerts
- ✓8 languages
Core
For growing stores with larger catalogs.
- ✓~250 conversations/month
- ✓Up to 2,000 SKUs
- ✓Everything in Starter
- ✓5 team members
- ✓Staff booking + waitlist
- ✓Custom brand colors
- ✓Auto follow-ups
Pro
For large catalogs and high-volume stores.
- ✓Unlimited conversations
- ✓Unlimited SKUs
- ✓Everything in Core
- ✓25 team members
- ✓Multiple locations
- ✓Full widget customization
- ✓Priority support
*Conversation estimates based on average usage. Actual capacity depends on conversation length.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Mika recommend wines I do not carry?
No. Mika only recommends products from your catalog. If a customer asks for a specific bottle you do not stock, Mika lets them know and suggests similar options from your inventory. It never sends customers to competitors.
How does Mika handle age verification?
Mika does not perform age verification. Your website's existing age gate handles legal compliance before the customer reaches the chat. Mika operates on the assumption that anyone chatting has already passed your site's age check.
Can Mika take orders or process payments?
No. Mika does not process payments or manage orders. It recommends products, answers questions, and captures leads. If a customer wants to order, Mika directs them to your online store or captures their request for you to fulfill.
How do I keep Mika's recommendations current with my inventory?
You update your product catalog CSV through the dashboard whenever your inventory changes. Upload a new CSV to refresh what Mika can recommend. For seasonal products or limited releases, update the knowledge base section to note availability.
Will Mika make health claims about wine or spirits?
No. Mika does not make health claims about alcohol. If a customer asks about health benefits, Mika stays neutral and does not provide medical or nutritional advice. It sticks to product information, pairings, and tasting notes.
Can Mika help with catering or bulk orders?
Mika can capture bulk order requests as leads. It asks about the event type, guest count, preferences, and budget, then sends you the details. It does not calculate bulk pricing or place wholesale orders. Your team handles the quote from the information Mika collects.
Explore More Retail Solutions
Mika adapts to every type of retail business.
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Learn moreJewelry Stores
Jewelry purchases involve trust, education, and emotion. A product grid with prices does not build any of those. Mika has the conversation that turns a browser into someone who walks through your door ready to buy.
Learn moreTurn Browsers Into Buyers With the Right Recommendation
Your staff's expertise is your advantage. Mika puts it on your website around the clock.
You Paid for This Traffic. Make It Count.
Every visitor that bounces is ad spend wasted. Mika turns your existing traffic into leads and revenue. Plug and play. Live in 5 minutes.