Written in an authoritative but entertaining manner by port expert Richard Mayson, this completely updated edition offers unparalleled insight into the world of port and Douro wines.

Port is indisputably one of the world's great fortified wines. Enthusiasm for Port has never been greater and world-wide shipments continue to break all previous records. This book recounts the fascinating history of Port and the Douro up to the present day. It looks at the physical conditions of the region, grape varieties and vineyards, with an assessment of each of the main quintas in the Douro. It describes how Port is made and the many different styles of Port, from White and Ruby through to Vintage. The author includes his assessment of the wines back to 1960 and major vintages as far back as 1896. A directory of individual Port producers and shippers is included, and an evaluation of the principal producers of the unfortified wines of the Douro. The author concludes with an examination of the prospects for Port and the Douro in the twenty-first century. A book for the armchair wine enthusiast, it includes indispensable information for anyone visiting Oporto and the Douro valley. Previous books on Port have tended to examine this wine in isolation. This book seeks to redress the balance by putting Port wine in context. Book jacket.

- Portugal is rich in native grape varieties, providing much scope for those interested in new wine-drinking experiences - Portugal is a popular holiday destination and this book is the ideal guide for wine tourists - Author is an expert on Portuguese wines and the regional chair for Port and Madeira at the Decanter World Wine Awards - A prolific writer and the author of five books on wine, Richard Mayson is also one of three series editors for The Classic Wine Library Richard Mayson has had a fifty-year relationship with Portugal. During those years Portugal has changed greatly, as have its wines. The cooperatives and wine merchants of the 1970s produced patriotically Portuguese blended wines with little sense of place. Dão, Bairrada and Vinho Verde all existed as demarcated regions but were not fulfilling their potential. Alentejo was unrecognized as a region and unfortified Douro wines were merely a curiosity. The last half century has seen a proliferation of new regions and smaller wine producers growing grapes and making wine expressive of Portugal's many recognized terroirs. The Wines of Portugal begins by detailing the history of Portuguese wine, noting particularly how the long-standing relationship with Britain was instrumental in creating a market for wine. The grapes, including the country's many indigenous varieties, are analyzed in terms of their performance in Portugal's various terroirs. Mayson then goes on to present the regions in four broad categories: wines from the Atlantic littoral, mountain wines, plains wines of the south and the island wines of Madeira and the Azores. A chapter on rosé wine examines how brands such as Mateus kick-started the post-war wine industry, while another explores sparkling wine, for which most DOCs include a provision and which has experienced a recent revival in interest. The producer profiles feature Portugal's leading growers, from the historically important to drivers of change and interesting newcomers. This thorough study from an acknowledged expert in Portuguese wine is an essential addition to any wine-enthusiast's library.

"In many wine regions of the world the best type of wine is made every year. This is not true of Vintage Port. The Port producers do not 'declare' a Vintage Port in every year, only in some, when they believe the wine will have enough power and durability and excellence. For most Port brands, this happens about one year in three. There is an obvious question: which years did which producers declare? There is an obvious route to the answer: ask them. They sent answers, some slightly wrong, some very wrong. Correspondence went along the lines of "Your list doesn't include 1958, but your 1958 exists, and is good." Several previous books have included an appendix listing producers and years. Each has a list of producers by year, or years by producer, with no evidence and no verifiability. All those lists have errors, both of inclusion and omission. Port Vintages has evidence of which Port producers declared which vintages, and for each, all the facts and stories that could be found. It is organised into producer chapters, and within those, by vintage. So Port Vintages is the definitive chronicle of Vintage Port over the last 2 1/2 centuries."--Jacket flap.

The passion, courage, and talent of women making their way in a male-dominated field are captured through conversations with women winemakers from throughout California and wine regions of France, Italy, New Zealand, Portugal, and Spain. Their stories are told through the lens of four career pathways and the cultural histories of each wine region.

"A hip, new guide to wine for the new generation of wine drinkers, from the sommelier creators of the award-wining site WineFolly.com"--Provided by publisher.