This thread contains details of books about Port, Portugal, Wine and other stuff connected in some way with those three subjects. If you own a book that is not listed here and you want to add it please post details of it in this thread and PM DRT to have it added to the index.
Please do not use this thread for discussion about books but do feel positively encouraged to do so here.
The Wines of Portugal Author: Herbert Warner Allen Published: 1963 ISBN: not known ASIN: B0000CLXRV Pages:188 Comments: This is a very interesting book. Most of the pages are dedicated to the history and production of Port with a few at the end covering the other major wines of Portugal, such as Madeira and Sebutal.
Port (Faber books on wine) Author: George Robertson Published: 1978 ISBN: 978-0571110230 Pages: 188 Comments: A quick browse through this book makes me think it is the same style and general content as Mayson's Port and the Douro.
Vintage Port Author: James Suckling Published: 1990 ISBN: 0-918076-80-3 Pages: 339 Comments: A comprehensive review of five years of research tasting the wines of over 50 shippers with tasting notes, Wine Spectator scores, release prices and histories of the shippers.
Port Wine Quintas of the Douro Author: Alex Liddell and Janet Price Published: 1992 ISBN: 0 85667 410 9 Pages: 232 Comments: A fantastic book with lots of information and great pictures of the Quintas. A "must have" for the serious Port enthusiast.
Port Wine and Oporto Author: Ernest Cockburn Published: 1949 ISBN: not known ASIN: B000XVF60A Pages: 132 Comments: This is a serious collector's item. Very rare and a mine of information going back to the middle of the 19th century.
This book contains the following chapters:
Foreword (Colonel Ian Campbell, Chairman of the Wine and Spitirt Association 1941-45
Preface
1. "Good Wine is a Gentleman: treat it as such"
2. Early days in Oporto
3. Barron Forrester
4. The Phylloxera
5. The Monopoly Company of 1889
6. Historical Notes Since 1860
7. Notes on the Vintages Since 1860
8. What is Port Wine?
9. My Curio Shelf
10. The Present Position of Port Wine
11. Note for the Wine Trade Student
The Englishman's Wine - The Story of Port Author: Sarah Bradford Published: 1969 ISBN: not known ASIN: B001K23Q6C Pages: Comments:Similar type of content to Mayson's Port and the Douro. I haven't read this book yet and have never heard of Sarah Bradford previously so it will be interesting to see how opinion has changed over the past 40 years.
Port Wine - Notes on its History, Production & Technology Author: A. Moreira de Fonseca & Others Published: 1981 with 2nd edition in 1984 ISBN: not known ASIN: B000S349OC Pages: Comments:The rights to this book rest with Edicao do Instituto do Vinho do Porto who published it in 1981, 8 years after the work was finished. They delay in publishing was due to the demise of the original sponsors, the Gremio dos Exportadores de Vinho do Porto. The preface says that no funds were available to publish the book until 1981. I have not yet read this book but it seems to provide lots of information and statistics relating to how the quality of vineyards and wines are assessed. There is also a section listing and describing the various Port-related Acts which came into affect between 1755 and 1967.
Port Author: Henrik Oldenburg Published: 1999 ISBN: 87 90179 16 1 Pages: 380 Comments:Good info on all things to do with Port. For some reason this seem to be a reasonably expensive book (usually around £40) but worth having for the serious collector.
The Wine of the Douro Author: Hector Bolitho Published: 1956 ISBN: not known ASIN: B0000CJKK3 Pages: 23 Comments: More like an essay than a book. Large print with little or no info, just the author's brief impressions of Port wine and the Douro. Don't bother buying one.
Notes on a Cellar-book Author: George Saintsbury Published: 1920 (I have a 1920 1st Edition plus an "edited and annotated" version published in 2008) ISBN: 978 0 520 25352 0 Pages: Comments: I haven't yet read this book but thought it wrong not to have one.
Vintagewise Author: Andre L. Simon Published: 1945 (my book is an Edition from 1952) ISBN: not known ASIN: B0006DBZRS Pages: Comments: A lovely little book covering the principle classic old world wines. The text relating to Port has been here by JDAW so not worth purchasing unless you are interested in Simon's words on other styles or, like me, you just have to have it.
Port and Sherry, The Story of two fine wines Author: George Sandeman Published: 1955 ISBN: not known ASIN: B000HF6YAS Pages: 63 Comments: A short historical description of port and the port trade published by the house of Sandeman. Some interesting pictures and a "nice to have" if you are interested in collecting old books on the subject.
"The first duty of Port is to be red" Ernest H. Cockburn
Wine Lovers Guide To Port the Inside Story of a Unique Fortified Wine Author: Joao Paulo Martins Published: 2001 ISBN: 9722017810 Pages: 160 Comments: This book was sponsored by the Port Wine Shipers' Association (AEVP) and provides a concise reference to the history and production of Port. It does exactly what it says in the title.
"The first duty of Port is to be red" Ernest H. Cockburn
Wine Dynasties of Europe: Personal Portraits of Ten Leading Houses Author: Harry Eyres Published: 1990 ISBN: 978 1852910884 Pages: 224 Comments: A historical review of 10 major wine producers, one of which is the Symington family.
"The first duty of Port is to be red" Ernest H. Cockburn
Port - An Essential Guide To The Classic Drink Author: Andrew Jefford Published: 1988 ISBN: not known ASIN: B000KKK532 Pages: 93 Comments: This appears to be very similar in style and content to The Port Companion by Godfrey Sence. A good, concise description of Port and the shippers although now somewhat out of date compared to Spence. One worry is the chapter entitled "Port from other countries"
"The first duty of Port is to be red" Ernest H. Cockburn
A Dictionary of Wines, Spirits and Liqueurs Author: André L. Simon First Published: 1958 Edition: 1958 Code/Source: ASIN: B0000CK0GS Pages: 167 Comments: Exactly what the title says: 167 pages of definitions of terminology and types of alcoholic drinks.
A Guide to Good Wine Author: Allan Sichel First Published: 1952 Edition: 1952 Code/Source: ASIN: B0000CI6M5 Pages: 200 Comments: A nice old illustrated guide to the principal wine regions of Europe.
A Guide to the Douro and to Port Wine Author: Manuel Carvalho First Published: 1995 Edition: 1995 Code/Source: ISBN-13: 978-9723603705 Pages: 234 Comments: A good beginner's guide to the subject of Port and the Douro region.
A History and Description of Modern Wines Author: Cyrus Redding First Published: 1833 Edition: 1833 Code/Source: ASIN: B000SFX2CK Pages: 407 Comments: This is a very heavy read!! - Lots of statistical tables in the Appendices that contain interesting data from the the 1700s and early 1800s. I originally bought a 2008 re-print of the 1860 (3rd Edition) of this book but was unable to resist also buying an original 1st Edition from 1833 when it popped up on Amazon. This is the oldest original book in my collection by quite a stretch!
A Wine Primer Author: André L. Simon First Published: 1946 Edition: 1964 Code/Source: ASIN: B0012OOBIU Pages: 152 Comments: As far as I can tell this is a book which has the sole objective pof persuading people to drink various types of classic wine. No argument from me.
A Wine Primer Author: André L. Simon First Published: 1946 Edition: 1964 Code/Source: ASIN: B0012OOBIU Pages: 152 Comments: As far as I can tell this is a book which has the sole objective pof persuading people to drink various types of classic wine. No argument from me.
The Commonsense of Wine Author: André L. Simon First Published: 1966 Edition: 1970 Code/Source: ISBN-13: 978-0715348116 Pages: 192 Comments: A series of questions and answers relating to the major wine-producing regions of the world. The book is written in the style of an interview and is very high level but provides a useful set of answers to the basics of what the wines of each region are all about.
Convivial Dickens Author: Edward W. Hewett & W.F. Axton First Published: 1983 Edition: 1983 Code/Source: ISBN-13: 978-0821407011 Pages: 191 Comments: An amusing and interesting read for fans of Dickens' works. This book gives "an account of the drinks and drinking customs of our Victorian grandsires, keyed to the innumerable scenes of imbibing in the life, work and times of Charles Dickens".
Drinking with Dickens Author: Cedric Dickens First Published: 1980 Edition: 1980 Code/Source: ISBN-13: 978-0950718408 Pages: Comments: A fun read, recounting the drinking habits of one of the most famous lovers of Vintage Port in history. The book was written by Cedric Dickens, the great-grandson of Charles.
Every Man His Own Butler Author: Cyrus Redding First Published: 1839 Edition: 2009 Code/Source: ISBN-13: 978-1459071551 Pages: 87 Comments: This is a recreation of the original text of the original book, which gives advice to the early 19th century Gentleman on how he should manage his cellar, using Optical Character Recognition software. The software was apparently rubbish, resulting in the number of spelling and formating errors per page running to the dozens, making this a very impenetrable book. Shame.
Facts About Port and Madeira Author: Henry Vizetelly First Published: 1880 Edition: 2009 Code/Source: ISBN-13: 978-1120619013 Pages: 211 Comments: This is an excellent book which gives a detailed account of the author's journey to the Douro, Oporto and Madeira where he visted a number of Qunitas and Lodges. This is a must-have book for any serious collection of books about port and is widely available as a facsimile re-print or in PDF format. I have both!
History of the Wine Trade in England Volumes 1 to 3 Author: André L. Simon First Published: 1906, 1907 and 1909. Re-printed in 1967. Edition: PDF Code/Source: http://www.million-books.com Pages: Comments: Published in three volumes in 1906, 1907 and 1909 this enormous work gives a detailed history of the wine trade throughout recorded history. I have managed to find PDF copies of volumes 1 and 2 but volume 3 has so far remained hidden. Copies of the originals and a reproduction from t1967 are available on Amazon but are very expensive. Perhaps best spending a few hours at a major library if you wish to read this.
Hugh Johnson's Pocket Wine Book 2004 Author: Hugh Johnson First Published: 2003 Edition: 2003 Code/Source: ISBN: 1 84000 731 1 Pages: 288 Comments: I found this in my Christmas stocking in Dec 2003.
In Vino Veritas Author: André L. Simon First Published: 1913 Edition: 1913 Code/Source: ASIN: B000YSWYF2 Pages: 202 Comments: Part of a series of educational books about wine produce by the author on behalf of The Wine Trade Club. Not yet read.
Let's Talk About Port Author: Valente Perfeito First Published: 1948 Edition: 1948 Code/Source: ASIN: B0007J7OX0 Pages: 100 Comments: A very brief browser through the pages shows that this will be a highly entertaining read.
Letters from the peninsula 1808-1812 Author: William Warre First Published: 1999 Edition: 2009 Code/Source: ISBN-13: 978-1103050239 Pages: 312 Comments: A series of letters from Lieutenant-General Sir William Warre written principally to his mother and father during the Peninsular War, as complied by his nephew, the Reverand Edmond Warre in 1909. A fascinating first-hand account of a traumatic period in Portugal's history.
Lusitanian Sketches Volumes 1 & 2 Author: William Kingston First Published: 1845 Edition: PDF Code/Source: http://www.million-books.com Pages: Comments: This is a fantastic old book for anyone familiar with Portugal, giving an account of the authors tours of the north of the country over a two year period. I managed to find PDF copies but have not yet traced an original.
Memoirs of the Marquis of Pombal Author: Sébastiãno José de Carvalho e Mello de Pombal First Published: 1843 Edition: 2001 Code/Source: ISBN-13: 978-1402179129 Pages: 343 Comments: Not yet read.
Oporto, Old and New Author: Charles Sellers First Published: 1899 Edition: 2009 Code/Source: ASIN: B002WUK75Y Pages: 314 Comments: This is a fabulous old book which sets out the history of the British Shippers of the time in fine detail. I have a PDF copy and a facsimile copy of this book but have a need to acquire an original to add to my collection.
Oz Clark's Pocket Wine Book Author: Oz Clark First Published: 2009 Edition: 2009 Code/Source: ISBN: 978-1-862058-63-7 Pages: 352 Comments: I found this in my Christmas stocking in Dec 2009.
Pocket Vintage Wine Companion Author: Michael Broadbent First Published: 2007 Edition: 2007 Code/Source: ISBN: 978-1-862057-83-8 Pages: 408 Comments: A (large) pocket-sized version of Broadbent's classic "Vintage Wine". The pocket version has new tasting notes for recent vintages and also has many updates to the notes from the original book. The new book was published in 2007 and brings this excellent reference set up to date.
Port Author: William J. Todd First Published: 1926 Edition: 1926 Code/Source: ASIN: B000XVDPTY Pages: 95 Comments: A great little book that includes a fold-out chart measuring around 12 inches (30cm) square desrcribed as "A Diagrammatic Summary of Port Imports from 1678 to the Present Day" and headed "Curves of Port Imports Plotted for every Decade from 1678 to 192-".
Port Author: Rupert Croft Cooke First Published: 1957 Edition: 1957 Code/Source: ASIN: B000O8HS12 Pages: 219 Comments: Mostly historical stuff but a nice chapter entitled "Port in the Kitchen" which includes a number of recipes
Port - an Introduction to its History and Delights Author: Wyndham Fletcher First Published: 1978 Edition: 1978 Code/Source: ISBN-13: 978-0856670442 Pages: 124 Comments: This is one of my favourite books about port. Whilst now somewhat out-of-date, it is written by a man who obviously has a great passion for the subject and a wealth of experience built up over many years working in the industry. Well worth owning a copy for the vintage descriptions and listings alone but also a very enjoyable read.
Port (Constable's Wine Library) Author: André L. Simon First Published: 1934 Edition: 1934 Code/Source: ASIN: B00236GRRY Pages: 130 Comments: Part of a series of small handbooks covering the principle wine regions of France, Port, Madeira and Sherry. Nice to have if you find a cheap copy.
Port (Wines of the World Pocket Library) Author: André L. Simon First Published: 1949 Edition: 1951 Code/Source: ASIN: B0010QSP9G Pages: 15 Comments: A cute little pocket book produced by The Wine and Food Society as part of their "Wines of the World" series. An interesting and entertaining 10 minute read and containing a grading of all vintages from 1847 to 1946 on the scale "0 = no good, 7 = the best".
Port and the Douro Author: Richard Mayson First Published: 1999 Edition: 1999 & 2004 Code/Source: ISBN-13: 978-1840009439 Pages: 416 Comments: The modern day port lovers bible. If you have a copy of the original 1999 edition it is worth spending a few pounds to obtain the enlarged volume from 2004. This is the first book you should buy if you want to know about Port.
Port to Port Author: Lisa Linder & Susan Ward Davies First Published: 1996 Edition: 1996 Code/Source: ISBN-13: 978-1900942003 Pages: 192 Comments: The dust jacket note from George Sandeman says "This book takes a fresh look at Port and the many different ways that its styles and tastes can be enjoyed; in combinations that are as rich as your imagination."
Port: from the vine to the glass Author: Geoffrey Murat Tait First Published: 1936 Edition: 1936 Code/Source: ASIN: B001PHBRUO Pages: 174 Comments: This is partly historical but principally deals with the technical aspect of the port production process with a fair smattering of statistics and seven pages dedicated to the quality of port vintages from 1800 to 1934, each of which is rated on the scale: Very Bad, Bad, Ordinary, Fair, Very Fair, Good, Very Good or Very Fine Indeed. I am very pleased with this particular purchase.
Portugal and its Capabilities Author: Joseph James Forrester First Published: 1860 Edition: PDF Code/Source: books.google.com Pages: 297 Comments: Fourth Edition of Forresters "Prize Winning Essay" with additional content in the appendicies.
