Books about Port

Steven Kooij · Post by **Steven Kooij** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 2:40 pm

As much as I enjoy drinking Port, I like to read about it as well. I've got a small collection of books on Port, of which the best (IMHO) are:

Vintage Port - James Suckling: a classic! I wish he would write an updated version...
Port and the Douro - Richard Mayson: the updated version is perhaps the best book on Port available now.
Port - Hendrik Oldenburg: great information on the different producers and the history of Port, I'm not so sure about his TNs, but written with so much enthousiasm for the subject!

Any other books out there that are "must have's"? One book that I'd love to have is one with historic pictures of the region: I've read about J.J. Forrester being a great photographer as well as a map maker - is there a book / publication that includes his photos?

Tom Archer · Post by **Tom Archer** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 4:25 pm

There are a number of books out there, but there is a noticeable lack of anything recent - despite the relatively slow pace of the subject, books written ten or more years ago look very dated now.

I'd love to see Mayson launch a fresh edition of his book - to bring things up to date.

Maybe he needs encouragement! - If anyone has his email address, I'd be gratefull!

Steven Kooij · Post by **Steven Kooij** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 4:40 pm

Uncle Tom, the latest revisted and updated edition of Mayson's book is from 2004.

Tom Archer · Post by **Tom Archer** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 1:58 am

Is it a new edition or a reprint?

Does it cover the 2000's?

Steven Kooij · Post by **Steven Kooij** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 3:21 am

New edition, with even the vintage 2003 discussed.

Tom Archer · Post by **Tom Archer** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 7:39 am

Thanks Steve - have ordered from Amazon

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 10:10 am

Richard Mayson is as nice in person as is the quality of his writing style. I have hung out with him in Portugal a couple of years ago. I invited him to one of my tastings too and he came over and I took him to some local wineries. He did a nice write up of the Port gig here in INTERNATIONAL WINES and you can see my report in the "Article" section of this website, along with pictures of him and a few folks who post here.

I was just thinking the other day that although I really have enjoyed Suckling's outstanding book, it was time for him to do an update. Easier said than done as just tasting the wines would take a year or two in terms of the TNs, not to mention all the changes in viticulture, ownership of Port companies, production methods, new vintages and newcomers to the trade. I bet it would be a daunting task and am sure he does not have the luxury of time to do so. I wonder if he will EVER be able to accomplish this in the future?

Here is the most beautiful book in terms of new but mostly older and even ancient and rare photos from the Douro. It is not in English but the photos are so compelling, it is well worth owning for the true Port maniac. I own nearly 70 books on Port and this is one of the only ones that is not written in English.

Anyway, this one is called, DOURO: DO TUA A FOZ COM A FOTOGRAFIA BELEZA and was written by Maria do Carmo Seren.

For those that might be interested in some of my favorite readings on Port, (besides the 3 books mentioned in the original post in this thread ... all of which are excellent!) I would suggest:

Facts About Port and Madeira by Henry Vizetelly

Sherry and Port by H. Warner Allen

the Wines and Vineyards of Portugal by Richard Mayson

Rich, Rare & Red by Ben Howkins

Port Wine Quintas of the Douro by Liddell and Price

Steven Kooij · Post by **Steven Kooij** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 11:23 am

Roy ,that sound just like the book I'm looking for! Do you know whether it is still in print? Could you post the ISBN-number? TIA!

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 12:17 pm

Steven,

Yes, it is a fairly new book from December of 2002, that I purchased while in Portugal during the summer of 2003.

ISBN: 972-18-1872-6

Post by **Andy Velebil** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 12:26 pm

Thanks for the info, I just ordered from Amazon;

Rich, Rare, and Red and

Port and the Douro

Steven Kooij · Post by **Steven Kooij** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 12:45 pm

Thanks Roy - time to start looking!

D. Pirmann · Post by **D. Pirmann** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 12:55 pm

I have a book I haven't seen mentioned here: "A Wine Lover's Guide to Port: the Inside Story of a Unique Fortified Wine" by Joao Paulo Martins (text in English ISBN 9722017810). No tasting notes-- just a history of the Port trade and how Port is made. I picked it up some place in Porto, maybe at the Solar do Vinho do Porto.

Tom Archer · Post by **Tom Archer** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 3:25 pm

Mayson's new edition arrived today, and is much more than an update, with many more producers included.

If you enjoyed the first edition, buy the second.

Richard Henderson · Post by **Richard Henderson** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 9:03 pm

The Michael Broadbent Great Vintage Books of Wine have great tasting notes about many kinds of wines. He has great notes about many ports and Madeiras that go back for centuries. He has a tasting note from a bottle of 1700 port that he tasted in 1987 that he gave three stars.

He autographed my books ( I have both editions) at a tasting in Dallas in 1992.

He will have notes on obscure years such as 1962. I once stumbled across a 1962 Fonseca Guimareans tasted with a friend who found it in a Kansas City sale bin for $5. I could find no info on the wine until I looked up Michael Broadbent's notes. Broadbent had a note about it!( Two stars).

He has extensive notes for such vintages as the 1955 Taylor which I tried recently for the first time.

I have also Rich, Rare and Red and the Suckling book as well. RP keeps up to date on recent vintages. These are must have books for port.

But, I have to say, if you want a complete port book collection, the Broadbent books are essential.

Stuart Chatfield · Post by **Stuart Chatfield** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 5:40 am

I second Richard's comments on Broadbent's notes. For older ports they are invaluable and the advice they give get you your money back after a few purchases. Also, his predictions of the likely future performance of ports that are currently immature carry a lot of weight with me because he has the age and experience to have followed so many of the current great mature wines thoughout their whole life. Who else around can recall what the '55s were like just after bottling?

Doug Zdanivsky · Post by **Doug Zdanivsky** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 6:06 pm

Hmm.. I'll have to check those out!

Thanks!

Steven Kooij · Post by **Steven Kooij** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 2:11 pm

A nice addition to the collection today: "De edele wingerd en de grote wijnen van Portugal"; a Dutch translation of "The wines of Portugal" by H. Warner Allen - published in the mid-sixties. The wines of Portugal are of course Port, with Madeira and Setubal being given some attention as well. Almost as an afterthought, Vinho Verde and Dão are mentioned as well.

It is almost a time-capsule, and fascinating to read how much has changed in just 40 years...for instance:
- A thorough discussion on the different breeds of ox used to haul the barrels both in the Douro valley as well as in Vila Nova;
- The way rebalos transport the wine over the river, with the railroad mentioned as an (unwelcome!) modern alternative;
- The facination of the author with the ultra-rare "Vintage Tawny" (i.e. Colheita).

It also includes:
- A list of vintages produced by the leading shippers, going back to the 1869 Vintage (although some vintages I know to be produced are missing);
- Tasting notes (both by the author and from literature research) going back to the 1797 Vintage.

A great find, IMHO - and the best part: I paid just 10 Euro for this first edition in mint condition (with even the original dust cover)!

Tom Archer · Post by **Tom Archer** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 3:56 pm

OK, you Dutch people speak better English than most Brits, AND you have a secret language that no one else understands...

Grrr :)

Steven Kooij · Post by **Steven Kooij** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 4:13 pm

:twisted: :)

Frederick Blais · Post by **Frederick Blais** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 8:44 pm

A friend of mine bought some book in Portugal a few years ago. Some interesting one a written by Portuguese.

A wine lover's guide to port by Joao Paul Martins
Port Wine Guide by A. Forrester Zamith

There is also a book that is like the Gamber Rosso in Italy, reviewing many wines and Port from Portugal and giving them tasting notes and score, I just don't remember the name, maybe Mario Ferreira can help us with that one.

But I don't know about the availability of these.