Port and the Douro

This book is an essential  reference to one of the world's greatest wines and the finest mountain wine region.  Richard Mayson recounts the history of Port up to the present day and gives a thorough analysis of the vineyards and grape varieties, with a geographical directory of the top estates or quintas. Port production and the full range of styles, from Ruby to Vintage, are covered in detail. Based on the author's extensive tasting notes there is a detailed guide to vintages back to 1854. Douro wines, unfortified but made from the same grape varieties as Port, are covered in a seaparate chapter. Whereas earlier books on Port tended to focus on the two cities of Oporto and Vila Nova de Gaia and the rather clubbable lifestyle of the Port shippers this book seeks to put Port in context and gives the growers and  vineyards of the Douro valley equal if not greater weight  Above all, this fully revised second edition is a good read for wine drinkers and wine trade students alike.  

Port and the Douro won the Symington family Port Award in 2004

More reviews:

'a useful insiders view'  Giles MacDonagh, Financial Times

'a very useful book because Richard Mayson really does know his subject' Jasper Morris MW, The Vine

'Mayson is an informative guide to one of the greatest of fortified wines.' Conal Gregory MW, The Scotsman

'definitive and well-written' San José Mercury

'Mayson...writes directly and clearly and has taken great pains to make the work comprehansive. Buy the book!' Harvey Finkel, New England Wine Gazette

'Mayson's knowledge is encylopaedic...' Raymond Blake, Food and Drink (Ireland)

First published in 1999 by Faber & Faber, London, with a fully revised and updated second edition published by Mitchell Beazley, London in 2004. This book is currently out of print but Richard Mayson will shortly be preparaing a third edition. Copies of the second edition can still be found for sale on www.amazon.com