SommelierX Wine Pairing MCP
# @sommelierx/mcp-server
Wine pairing intelligence for AI assistants. Connect Claude, Cursor, Windsurf, or any MCP-compatible client to a sommelier-grade pairing algorithm that matches wines to your ingredients, dishes, and recipes.
## Quick Start
### Claude Desktop
Add to `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"sommelierx": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["@sommelierx/mcp-server"]
}
}
}
```
That is it. Ask Claude _"What wine goes with grilled salmon?"_ and it will use SommelierX to answer.
### With a Pro API key
For recipe extraction, group pairing, and score breakdowns:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"sommelierx": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["@sommelierx/mcp-server"],
"env": {
"SOMMELIERX_API_KEY": "sk_live_your_key_here"
}
}
}
}
```
### Cursor / Windsurf / Other MCP Clients
The same configuration works. Add the `command` and `args` to your client's MCP settings.
## Available Tools
| Tool | What it does | Tier |
|------|-------------|------|
| `pair_wine_with_ingredients` | Find wines for a list of ingredients (e.g. "salmon, lemon, dill") | Free |
| `pair_wine_with_meal` | Find wines for a dish name (e.g. "risotto ai funghi") | Free |
| `find_meals_for_wine` | Find dishes that pair with a wine style (e.g. "Barolo") | Free |
| `search_ingredients` | Search the ingredient database | Free |
| `search_meals` | Search the meal database | Free |
| `pair_wine_with_recipe_url` | Extract ingredients from a recipe URL and pair wines | Pro |
| `group_pairing` | Find the best wine across multiple dishes (e.g. 3-course dinner) | Pro |
## Authentication
SommelierX supports two authentication methods. You can use either one -- no need to configure both.
### Option 1: API Key (subscription)
Set the `SOMMELIERX_API_KEY` environment variable in your MCP client config. The key format is `sk_live_...`. You get a monthly call allowance based on your tier (Free / Pro / Enterprise).
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"sommelierx": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["@sommelierx/mcp-server"],
"env": {
"SOMMELIERX_API_KEY": "sk_live_your_key_here"
}
}
}
}
```
Get your API key at [api.sommelierx.com](https://api.sommelierx.com).
### Option 2: x402 Payment (pay per call)
No API key needed. Your AI agent pays per call using USDC on the Base network via the [Coinbase x402 protocol](https://www.x402.org/). When a request lacks an API key, the server returns a `402 Payment Required` response with a payment payload. x402-compatible agents handle this automatically.
This is ideal for:
- AI agents that manage their own wallet
- Pay-as-you-go usage without a subscription
- Agent-to-agent commerce (no human in the loop)
### Pricing (per call)
| Tool | Price | Tier |
|------|-------|------|
| `pair_wine_with_meal` | $0.01 | Free |
| `find_meals_for_wine` | $0.01 | Free |
| `search_ingredients` | $0.005 | Free |
| `search_meals` | $0.005 | Free |
| `pair_wine_with_ingredients` | $0.02 | Pro |
| `pair_wine_with_recipe_url` | $0.02 | Pro |
| `group_pairing` | $0.03 | Pro |
With an API key, calls are deducted from your tier allowance. With x402, each call is charged at the listed price.
## Example Conversations
**Basic pairing:**
> "What wine pairs well with salmon, asparagus, and hollandaise sauce?"
**Reverse pairing:**
> "I have a bottle of Barolo. What should I cook?"
**Recipe URL:**
> "What wine goes with this recipe? https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/..."
**Dinner party:**
> "I'm planning a 3-course dinner: Caesar salad, rack of lamb, and chocolate mousse. What single wine works for all courses?"
## How It Works
1. You ask your AI assistant a wine question
2. The assistant calls the appropriate SommelierX tool
3. The MCP server translates your input into structured API calls
4. SommelierX's pairing algorithm (17 food DNA dimensions x 19 wine DNA dimensions) calculates matches
5. You get scored wine recommendations based on real sommelier expertise
### Ingredient Resolution
When you use `pair_wine_with_ingredients`, the server automatically resolves natural language ingredient names to database entries. The AI assistant does not need to know database IDs -- it passes ingredient names directly.
## Configuration
| Environment Variable | Required | Default | Description |
|---------------------|----------|---------|-------------|
| `SOMMELIERX_API_KEY` | No | -- | API key for Pro/Enterprise access. Without a key, free tier (50 calls/day). |
| `SOMMELIERX_API_URL` | No | `https://api.sommelierx.com` | API base URL. |
| `SOMMELIERX_LANGUAGE` | No | `en` | Default language for results (`en`, `nl`, `fr`, `de`, `es`, `it`). |
## API Tiers
| Tier | Daily Limit | Per-Minute Limit | Features |
|------|------------|------------------|----------|
| **Free** | 50 calls | 2/min | Basic pairing, search, ingredient/meal lookup |
| **Pro** ($49/mo) | 500 calls | 20/min | + Recipe URL extraction, group pairing, score breakdowns |
| **Enterprise** | 10,000 calls | 100/min | + Custom limits, SLA |
Get your API key at [api.sommelierx.com](https://api.sommelierx.com)
## API Documentation
Full API documentation is available at [docs.sommelierx.com](https://docs.sommelierx.com).
The OpenAPI specification is served at `https://api.sommelierx.com/api/v1/openapi.json`.
## Development
```bash
npm install
npm run build
npm run dev # development mode with hot reload
npm run typecheck # type checking without emit
```
## Requirements
- Node.js >= 18.0.0
## License
MIT
TDQS
Scored across 7 tools
Each tool has a clear and distinct purpose: three pair wine with different inputs (meal, ingredients, recipe URL), one finds meals for a wine, one does group pairing, and two are search tools for discovering meals and ingredients. There is no confusing overlap.
Most tools follow a consistent verb_noun pattern (e.g., pair_wine_with_meal, search_ingredients). However, there is some inconsistency: 'find_meals_for_wine' and 'group_pairing' use different verbs, though they remain descriptive. Overall, the naming is clear.
With 7 tools, the server covers all core wine pairing use cases without being bloated. The count is well-scoped for its domain, earning each tool its place.
The tool set covers the full range of pairing needs: wine-to-dish, dish-to-wine, ingredients-to-wine, recipe-to-wine, and multi-dish group pairing, plus discovery. No obvious gaps for its intended purpose.