The Wines of Portugal

A revolution has been taking place in the vineyards and wineries of Portugal during the last twenty-five years, bringing hundreds of new wines, many from indigenous grapes, onto the international market. Previously thought of as a producer of mainly red wine, Portugal is now proving it can make world-class white wines too. In order to examine the terroirs that make this small but varied country so unique The Wines of Portugal divides the country into four areas – Atlantic, mountains, plains and islands – providing detailed descriptions of the demarcated wine regions, the growers and the wines they produce. From crisp Vinhos Verdes in the Atlantic north-west through the Douro, Dão and Lisbon to the big, bold reds of the Alentejo and newcomers from the Algarve, this book is an up-to-date appraisal of Portugal’s vineyards and wine producers. • Captures the changes in Portuguese wine that have taken place over the five years since the previous edition was published. • Thoroughly updated producer entries with more wines tasted. • Expansion of the section on Azores wines, reflecting the recent rapid revival of winemaking here, as well as its popularity as a tourist destination. • Richard Mayson is a series editor for The Classic Wine Library and the first edition of this book is among the series’ best-sellers. • New colour maps make navigating the wine landscape easier; also contains colour photos.

A revolution has been taking place in the vineyards and wineries of Portugal during the last twenty-five years, bringing hundreds of new wines, many from indigenous grapes, onto the international market. Previously thought of as a producer of mainly red wine, Portugal is now proving it can make world-class white wines too. In order to examine the terroirs that make this small but varied country so unique The Wines of Portugal divides the country into four areas – Atlantic, mountains, plains and islands – providing detailed descriptions of the demarcated wine regions, the growers and the wines they produce. From crisp Vinhos Verdes in the Atlantic north-west through the Douro, Dão and Lisbon to the big, bold reds of the Alentejo and newcomers from the Algarve, this book is an up-to-date appraisal of Portugal’s vineyards and wine producers. • Captures the changes in Portuguese wine that have taken place over the five years since the previous edition was published. • Thoroughly updated producer entries with more wines tasted. • Expansion of the section on Azores wines, reflecting the recent rapid revival of winemaking here, as well as its popularity as a tourist destination. • Richard Mayson is a series editor for The Classic Wine Library and the first edition of this book is among the series’ best-sellers. • New colour maps make navigating the wine landscape easier; also contains colour photos.

- 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. D?o, 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 ros? 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.

- 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. D?o, 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 ros? 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.