The gemorah in Brachos 41b says that the brocha said on wine exempts all other drinks from a brocha. There are a few opinions regarding when this halacha applies. Some say that even making a brocha on the smallest amount of wine will then exempt other drinks from a brocha. Others say that you must drink a few cups. The Mishna Berura 174:2 compromises that a cheekfull of wine is enough.
A common application of this halacha occurs on Shabbos. If one person makes kiddush for a few people, the listeners will usually only drink a little bit of wine. If one of the listeners decides to drink soda, does he need to make a brocha? The Mishna Berura suggests that it is best to avoid this and rather mke a “shehakol” on something else, or ask someone else who is also about to drink to have you in mind with his brocha. If this is not possible, one should not make a brocha.

Rabbi Tzvi Aryeh Hyman, Mir Yeshiva
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