Questions
Questions people ask
What exactly do I get?
Three PDF books: The Shelf (110 pages), The Table (137 pages) and The Keeper (109 pages), 356 pages in all. The Keeper also includes a pronunciation guide, six printable quick-reference cards and a tasting journal.
Can I read them on my phone or tablet?
Yes. They're ordinary PDFs that open on any phone, tablet or computer. The type is large and the pages are book-sized, so they read comfortably on a tablet and are fine on a phone.
I've never bought an ebook. How does it work?
After you pay, you get a download link on the screen and in your email. Tap it and the books open like any document. Nothing is mailed and there's nothing to install. If anything goes wrong, write to us and we'll walk you through it.
What if I lose the files?
The link stays in your email, so you can download them again. If you can't find the email, the Find my books page sends it again.
Can I print them?
Yes. The cards and the tasting journal in The Keeper are designed to be printed and kept in a kitchen drawer or inside a cupboard door.
I'm new to wine. Is this too much?
No. Nothing assumes you know the jargon, and the pronunciation guide covers the names people are nervous to say. Start with The Shelf if you buy, or The Table if you're hosting soon.
I've been drinking wine for decades. Is there anything new here?
Probably. Plenty of people who've bought wine for years don't know that “Produced and bottled by” and “Cellared and bottled by” mean different things, that an open red keeps 3 to 5 days in the fridge, or that in large blind tastings ordinary drinkers didn't prefer the expensive bottle. The books are full of that kind of thing.
What does Mark look at first on a bottle?
Who made it. On an American bottle, “Produced and bottled by” means that company fermented at least 75% of the wine itself. After that, the grape, the place and the alcohol percentage. The picture, the sticker and the word “Reserve” come last, if at all.
How long does an open bottle keep?
With the cork back in and kept in the fridge: light whites and rosé 5 to 7 days, fuller whites and most reds 3 to 5, sparkling wine 1 to 3 with a proper stopper. A spoon in the neck does nothing.
What should I spend on an everyday bottle?
In most shops the best value sits between $12 and $20. Above that, make sure you know what you're paying for. The Shelf lists 43 bottles under $20 I'd send a friend to buy.
Are the prices current?
This is the Fall 2026 edition. Every bottle in the under-$20 list says which store and which month its price was checked. Prices change and vary by state, so treat them as a guide, not a promise.
Do you sell wine?
No. These books are information only. Nobody paid to be included, and I don't earn anything from the bottles I mention.
Is this about drinking more?
No. It's about enjoying the bottle you were going to open anyway. The Keeper even has a chapter on what one drink actually measures.
How does the money-back guarantee work?
Write to us within 30 days of buying and you get every dollar back. Once an order is refunded, its download link stops working.
