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My sommelier and wine books on Amazon, and which one is for you
Four books I made with AI from my own notes as a sommelier: two for exam prep, one for wine lovers, one for a relaxed evening. What each one is, and who it's for.
Updated October 2026
Rewritten by Alper Billik, Advanced Sommelier
3 min read
I didn't write these books to be the best on the shelf. I wrote them to be different: to make studying wine less frustrating and drinking it less intimidating. Each one is made with AI, from my own notes as an Advanced Sommelier, and each is on Amazon.
Which book for whom
| You are... | The book | Pages |
|---|---|---|
| Starting the Level 1 / Introductory exam | Sommelier Level 1 Prep Book | 97 |
| Preparing for a certification, any level | Sommelier Prep Book | 149 |
| A wine lover who wants to understand what you drink | Wine Easy | 388 |
| Looking for a relaxed, screen-free way to learn, or a gift | Wine Crosswords | 50 puzzles |
- Starting the Level 1 / Introductory exam
- The bookSommelier Level 1 Prep Book
- Pages97
- Preparing for a certification, any level
- The bookSommelier Prep Book
- Pages149
- A wine lover who wants to understand what you drink
- The bookWine Easy
- Pages388
- Looking for a relaxed, screen-free way to learn, or a gift
- The bookWine Crosswords
- Pages50 puzzles
For exam prep
Level 1 / Introductory
Sommelier Level 1 Prep Book
A beginner's guide built for Level 1 certification: the key topics simplified, the important terms highlighted, the essentials made clear. 97 pages, small enough to study on the go before the exam.
Every level
Sommelier Prep Book
A quick question-and-answer guide: 149 pages of randomized questions on regions, grapes, styles and winemaking. Made for the five minutes before service, a break, or the commute. You answer, you check, you move on.
For wine lovers
For beginners
Wine Easy
The wine book that talks to you like a human: no textbooks, no exams, no snob energy. 388 full-colour pages in ten chapters, with retro comics, infographics and a five-step tasting system that works tonight. Grapes, tasting, pairing, and countries from A to Z.
For a quiet evening
Wine Crosswords
Fifty original wine crosswords that start easy and build up, with a 'Worth Knowing' wine fact on every page and a full answer key. Half puzzle book, half wine crash course, and a good gift for any wine lover.
These are affiliate links: I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
Why I made them this way
- Questions beat rereading. The prep book and the crosswords are built on questions, because answering is how knowledge sticks before an exam.
- Short sessions. All four can be picked up for five or ten minutes, because that is the time most people in hospitality really have.
- Plain words. Wine is hard enough without the jargon. Where a term matters, the book explains it.
- AI as a tool, not an author. I used AI to structure and produce the pages; the knowledge comes from my own study and work as a sommelier.
How to use them with your studies
- Pair the prep books with the Court's handbook. They test what you read; they don't replace it. See my study guide to Sales & Service for the Wine Professional.
- Mark the questions you miss, and come back to only those a week later.
- Use puzzles on tired days. Crosswords keep terms in your head when you can't face another chapter. More on that in learning with wine crosswords.
- Test yourself online too: my free Level 1 practice test, or SOMM DIGI AI's 3,000+ exam-prep questions.
Questions people ask
Are these books written with AI?
Yes, and I say so openly. I used AI to structure and produce them, built on my own notes and experience as an Advanced Sommelier.
Are these official Court of Master Sommeliers books?
No. They are my own study aids. The Court's handbook is Brian K. Julyan's Sommelier (formerly Sales & Service for the Wine Professional).
Which book should I start with for the Introductory exam?
The Sommelier Level 1 Prep Book, then the Sommelier Prep Book for mixed practice questions.
Which one makes the best gift?
Wine Easy for someone who is curious about wine, Wine Crosswords for someone who loves a puzzle.
For readers · next steps