In this handy portable guide to the top 50 British Columbia wines under $50 a bottle, wine expert Luke Whittall abandons the usual language of tasting notes in favour of a more personalized, approachable style, focusing on experiences, good company, and where a wine might take your thoughts.

As a wine industry professional, Whittall found himself inspired more by the way non-professionals talk about wine than the “hints of fresh cherries, dried herbs, and soupçons of eucalyptus” style often favoured in traditional wine writing. Sipster’s Pocket Guide describes the experiences bound up in the tasting of 50 of the most amazing wines this province has produced, including reds, whites, rosés, sparkling, and dessert wines.

With its emphasis on affordability and personal experience, rather than vintner and vintage specifics, Whittall’s guide reads less like the average wine fare and more like tips from a funny, candid friend. Before you head to the liquor store to deliberate over your next sip, take a glance through Sipster’s.