index index index index Up through page 60 this is an excellent survey book for "Port 101." The pictures throughout are very good and backed up by a well-printed and solidly bound book. The Port Directory which consumes the last two-thirds of the book is informative up to a point. Unfortunately, and, I suppose, by necessity, the selection of specific ports reviewed is limited and, more importantly, now dated since the book came out in 1999. Finally, it dismisses Australian ports. I personally think this is a shame as the quality of ports coming out of Victoria and South Australia are getting progressively better and offer excellent value. A delightful read, beautifully laid out as well. An excellent first book on port, though long-time devotees doubtless consult it regularly too. I suppose it could have been a smidge longer, as Spence obviously draws on a storehouse of port knowledge, but that's a small criticism and the volume is well worth its price.I've read the german translation of this port companion. It is very helpful and well written. Very good pictures of Quintas and bottles make it a joyful read. The author gives details for wines and vintages on most quintas. Maybe he could have given more comments on vintages on some quintas, esp. the high rated ones.I'm relatively new to the joys of port wine, so when I saw this book I bought it immediately. I have not been disappointed. The helpful history, geography, tasting sections are relatively brief but interesting, and the review section is stellar. If you want to become an informed port consumer, buy this book!From the creators of the tremendously successful Cigar Companion (with over 100,000 copies sold), this next guide in the series covers everything one needs to know about the worlds port. From the history of the beverage to the step-by-step process of making the wine, this beautifully illustrated companion to port also provides details on where to buy it and tips on storage, serving, and decanting. A directory of all the major port houses allows the reader to fully appreciate and understand the differences among them.Perfect for the port connoisseur, Port makes a delightful holiday gift!Godfrey Spence is the coauthor of Exploring Wines and Spirits. A lecturer at the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, Spence resides in the UK.Are you a wine lover who thinks that LBV is an all-girl pop trio--and that tawny and ruby are its lead vocalists? If so, you might just want to check out The Port Companion by Godfrey Spence, former London wine retailer and current lecturer for the trade's Wine & Spirit Education Trust. In this handsome, full-color guide packed with history, tasting notes, maps, and entries on over 300 venerable port houses (including addresses and phone numbers), Spence just as colorfully shows you a region whose grapes are still crushed by foot, and where the Olde School British shippers still pass the decanter to the left at the weekly Factory House luncheons.

It's subtitled A Connoisseur's Guide, and by the time you've finished, you'll be able to talk porto as if you were to the quinta born. Every pertinent port fact is here: England's 1678 trade embargo against France, sending traders scrambling for a French wine substitute; the fraudulent wine adulteration using elderberry juice--prompting the sanctioned destruction of every elderberry tree in northern Portugal; the "report card" letter grade (A through F) assigned to every vineyard.

You'll learn that port is a classic wine that permits over 48 grape types--both red and white--in its blend, approves of 20, desires 5, yet is tolerant of over 120. And they're all grown in an area where the topsoil is rarely more than four inches thick and dynamite frequently must be used to plant the vines. The Port Companion is a concise reference suitable for both novice and connoisseur. --Tony Mason suria review reviews analysis analyze