The Port Companion: A Connoisseur's Guide [Hardcover]

Godfrey Spence (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 23, 1997

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 world s 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.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

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

About the Author

Godfrey Spence joined the wine trade in 1983, running wine stores in London and Kent. In 1990 he moved to the Wine and Spirit Education Trust, an international education body, where he lectures to students and also edits their educational publications. He regularly writes articles for wine and spirit trade journals. Godfrey's particular area of interest is, of course, port. He is a frequent visitor to the Douro Valley, Portugal, constantly updating himself on the latest facts and details about port wine. Godfrey lives in South-West London. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Macmillan General Reference; 1 edition (September 23, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028617819
• ISBN-13: 978-0028617817
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #495,143 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Need to brush up on your port?, October 17, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Port Companion: A Connoisseur's Guide (Hardcover)

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!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Slim, but full of knowledge., October 11, 1999

By 

Edward Peters - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Port Companion: A Connoisseur's Guide (Hardcover)

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.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Solid reference - good pics, February 12, 2006

By 

Marcus Peacock (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Port Companion (Connoisseurs Guide) (Paperback)

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.