If you were going to write a Port book ...

[Roy Hersh]

What would you pick as your topic that would inspire people to buy your book?

What title would you give it?




p.s. No, I have no plans to write one.

[Frederick Blais]

The best selling title would be in big bold letters 100pts Robert Parker :devil:

Good question though, not sure yet what I would say.

Edit : How about:" 4 months of hell to produce God's nectar"

[Glenn E.]

I like Frederick's theme, but I'd change it just a little bit. My title would be

100 Point Ports

And the book would be one of those narratives describing my quest to try every 100 point port in history. I would include an explanation of each Port rating system (and pick them apart for their obvious deficiencies) and would then attempt to rank all of the Ports I'd tasted to determine which, if any, actually deserved their 100 point ratings.

I would try to keep it light and humorous, yet still filled with facts and lore.

Or something like that.

[*tycleStully]

100 Point Ports

And the book would be one of those narratives describing my quest to try every 100 point port in history. I would include an explanation of each Port rating system (and pick them apart for their obvious deficiencies) and would then attempt to rank all of the Ports I'd tasted to determine which, if any, actually deserved their 100 point ratings.

I would try to keep it light and humorous, yet still filled with facts and lore.

Or something like that.

I like it !
I would need a subtitle to get me as I hate wine scores (and never read the Jam Spectator)
Perfect for the anorak in me!

[Roy Hersh]

Well, if you were counting my 100 point Ports, there has only been one, so the section for debunking my selections would be quite thin. For you Glenn, it would also be very expensive as the 1994 Quinta do Noval Nacional which I annointed with that score, once ... out of the several bottles of it I have enjoyed, is more than you typically like to spend.

OK, now back to the question. I hope someone else out there will have a serious response with what they'd use for a topic and/or title.

[Glenn E.]

Well, if you were counting my 100 point Ports, there has only been one, so the section for debunking my selections would be quite thin. For you Glenn, it would also be very expensive as the 1994 Quinta do Noval Nacional which I annointed with that score, once ... out of the several bottles of it I have enjoyed, is more than you typically like to spend.

Well sure, but I expect my publisher to pay for all of the Port.

[Eric Menchen]

I guess I have a history bias, but I'd want some of that in a Port book. Now just a pure history can be boring, but there are ways to make it interesting. A year or two ago I read Microbrewed Adventures: A Lupulin-Filled Journey to the Heart and Flavor of the World's Great Craft Beers by Charlie Papazian. He spends some of his time traveling around the world visiting breweries. In Microbrewed Adventures, he describes some of his travels, the breweries, their beers, and a lot of the history behind them. While in the U.S. much of the history is more recent, for the European breweries it goes quite a ways back. I really enjoyed that book, and would pick up a port equivalent.
-Eric

[Moses Botbol]

I'd like to see a concise "bible" type of book listing virtually every brand, every vintage with a ton of professional pictures and a recent review of each bottle. Just like the "Illustrated Encyclopedia of Post Revolutionary Habanos Cigars" by MRN.

Every bottle ever made should have a review and picture.

[Tom Archer]

There is a gap in the Port book market, and I've toyed with the idea of writing it..

The Port Pocketbook

Small hardback book, perfect bound with perhaps 64 pages.

A book containing essential information for visitors to VNG and the Douro, full of maps & contact info, plus plain English descriptions of the different types of port, how to decant, vintage guide, a brief history; and of course, loads of photos.

Strictly neutral with regard to the producers, so that the lodge shops and Quintas would be happy to sell it.

Target retail price: Ten euros

Tom

[Andy Velebil]

Tom,
you read my mind. There really is no good pocket guide for Port. Something lists all the years and if they were overall good or not. Plus a basic guide to V.n.d.G. and Oproto with some common phrases used. A list of the lodges to visit in Gaia AND the Douro itself. Some hotel / B&B in the Douro as well. It wouldn't be all that hard to do but would be a great little book to have while getting around in the Douro, oporto, and V.n.d.Gaia

[Roy Hersh]

All of that information can be gleened on websites. I see the usefulness of it and a traveler's guide would be cool. However, I know some folks who believe that a book filled only with TNs on current impressions of ancient and young Ports would work too. Not my cup of tea ... but I rarely if ever, say never.

I love Port for its history and consider myself a novice in the overall historic picture, yet I've spent more time than I care to admit to, especially in the 1990s, reading everything I could get my hands on ... and then some of them again. It is the history of Port that continues to draw me to the topic and gets me to read more. But in book form, it has just about all been done before. I even considered doing a major book on Tawny Port and Colheitas/Garrafeiras which has never been done. Talk about a niche market though. Before my daughter was born, a pocket book of Port was up for consideration, similar to Tom's thoughts with less of a touristic feel and more geared towards Port purchasing.

When I look at the pages of writing in the newsletter (for better or worse ... you decide!) I think what I am sharing with the Port community is reference points on some young and old Ports, (over the course of the year) as well as a feel for what is going on in the vineyards and occasionally a peak behind the scenes (esp. with A Question for the Port Trade). In time, looking back at these issues will be similar to reading a book in some ways. Don't know if I will ever write one or not. Certainly no plans at this point.

I love seeing your suggestions though. Moses, go write that book!

[Moses Botbol]

I love seeing your suggestions though. Moses, go write that book!

Working on it. I think Sean and I have reviewed and pictured over 120 vintages so far. Please send us your 1945 and older ports for us to photo & review
:hello:

[Roy Hersh]

Great now that you are a subscriber, you can upload some bottle shots to PORTraits too!

[Johannes Stadler]

I like the Idea from the Main PAge to combine some normal word including PORT with another meaning...

Thus I'd go for something licke

A PORTrait -
why PORT is not just another wine.

or something along the lines of

.Powerful
. O.....
. . R.....
. . . T.....

my english is just not good enough to find suitable adjectives, so go ahead

Greetings, Johannes

[Roy Hersh]

.Powerful
. Old
. . Recipe
4. . . Tradition

[Carlos Rodriguez]

I usually buy wine books where the author give is own opinion and rate the wines or cellars. And I prefer thematic one's, by countries or type of wine. I don't like that much the global one's, they lack many information.

[Johannes Stadler]

For me there are two interresting but seperate types of books in that region.
The first deals as you said with more or less facts/opinions/ratings only. It is well organized needs a logical structure and is ideally a pocketbook with lots of ratings and advice about different regions, brands and single years.
The second category is a book to read in an evening when I have spare time. It deals with the surroundings, the history and the poeple that are connected to (port/)wine. This one in contrary should not be "dry information" but nicely illustrated with a lot of pictures, anecdotes etc. - those are usually also the quite thick ones with a seperate glossy cover

Greetings Johannes

[Stewart T.]

Now Drink Your Port and Let Me Tuck You In
Teaching Minors to Appreciate the Finer Points of Port Wine

:)

Seriously - I'd tend to be more historical and do profiles similar to the profiles that Roy has been doing on the site, complete with some kick-ass photography, historical maps and lineage of some of the key vineyards.

[Todd Pettinger]

Possible Titles:
Stomped in Tradition (of course photo of treaders knee-deep in juice would have to grace the cover, perhaps with some photos of the steep terraces on the back of the jacket)

Ideally, I would like a coffee-cook reference, with a lot of history of the juice, descriptions of the different types, decant methods, opening methods (ah-so, waiters companion, tongs) and illustrations of each method, and a ton of hostory from some of the major houses/players/institutes..

[Al B.]

If I was going to write a Port book...

...hmmm. I think I might ghost-write a collection of anecdotes of someone who loves port, has organised several trips to Portugal and experienced many amusing incidents during his visits. I would fill the majority of the book with their recent tasting notes of as wide a range of port as possible to provide port lovers around the world with a collection of tasting notes to replace Suckling's book on their bookshelf.

Now if only I can find someone who fits the bill and can be persuaded to write a book like this. Anyone know of someone who fits the bill

Alex