Richard Mayson – författare

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. Dão, Bairrada and Vinho Verde all existed as demarcated regions but were not fulfilling their potential. Alentejo was unrecognised 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 recognised 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 analysed 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 rosé 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.

Richard Mayson’s award-winning Port and the Douro, first published in 1999, has become a classic over the last 25 years. In this comprehensively updated fifth edition he reminds us why Port is a drink that continues to fascinate wine-lovers and win new fans. The last 50 years, since the end of the dictatorship in 1974, have seen vast transformations in the Port world, from labour-saving technology in field and cellar, to advances in sales reach, especially since Portugal’s formal entry into the EU in 1986, and ongoing changes in the way the industry is managed and regulated. To begin with, Mayson provides a history of Port, from the beginnings of viticulture in Roman times to the present day. The vineyards and their vines as well as the quintas where they are cultivated are thoroughly explored, followed by an explanation of Port production, both traditional and modern. A short introduction to Port types prepares the reader for a detailed assessment of vintages from 1960–2023; notable vintages (both exceptional and poor) dating back as far as 1844 are also included. The structure of the Port trade remains in flux, and so the chapter on the shippers reflects recent changes in fortune and ownership. Douro wine, which pre-dates its fortified cousin and has seen its revival accelerate over the last 20 years, receives an entire chapter to itself. Finally, for those wishing to visit the region, there are some ideas on what to do and where to stay. Peppered throughout with anecdotes, potted biographies of those who shaped the industry and insights into quirks of the trade, this extensive and engaging guide to Port is an essential book for any wine enthusiast’s library.

Laurence Stephen Lowry RBA RA is mostly thought about in terms of his people and their industrial setting but there is a great deal more to be read from the detail of his paintings. Throughout his artistic career, Lowry used street furniture to brilliant effect. He was a master of observation and composition. Lamp-posts, telegraph poles, flag poles, fences (and sometimes just vertical posts with no apparent use) form an important part of Lowry’s busy industrial scenes. As his work developed, lamps became a subject in their own right and became the focus of some of his later quiet, solitary works. The evidence of Lowry’s careful thought about lamps and lamp posts is evident in his response to young artists asking for career advice as well as it is in the painting: ‘no need to go to London to become a famous painter. You won’t find better lamp-posts there.’ This book examines an important aspect of Lowry’s art for the first time. It is written by Richard Mayson who was brought up in Lowry’s home-village of Mottram-in-Longdendale. Mayson has a life-long passion for street lamps and street furniture. Taking some of Lowry’s best-known works as a reference, this book highlights Lowry’s use of lamps and street furniture in his handling of composition, perspective and colour. The expression of solitude, an aspect of Lowry’s life and often conveyed in his later work, is also considered. He also compares the treatment of street furniture in Lowry’s paintings with the reality of Salford and Manchester streets from 1916 to the 1970s illustrating how Lowry’s work evolved. Previously unseen works in private collections will be reproduced in this book for the first time.

Madeira is unique among wines. While heat and air cause most wines to deteriorate, they are instrumental in the ageing of Madeira, producing distinctive and enthralling wines. Decades (in some cases over a century) of ageing result in a wine that is virtually indestructible and which remains stable for many months, even years, once opened – a great advantage with an expensive old wine. More than thirty years ago Richard Mayson was seduced by the romance of tasting history through these wines. Since then he has accumulated a wealth of knowledge, enabling him to write a truly authoritative book on the modern world of Madeira wine. Historical sources are also invaluable when discussing wines being released today, since many were actually created in a bygone era.Madeira begins by looking at the history of the islands and their wines and examining the geographical and climatic influences. The chapters covering the vineyards and winemaking techniques have been updated for this edition as knowledge of this enigmatic wine continues to be revealed. To the profiles of the producers, with notes on their typical wines, Mayson is pleased to add a new shipping firm, founded in 2012. A chapter on the shippers provides background information and tasting notes on more than 400 wines, many re-tasted since the first edition. Mayson then provides an insightful chapter unravelling the language of tasting Madeira and explaining how to buy, keep and serve the wine, and concludes with a guide to visiting the islands. The book is completed with detailed appendices. This thoroughly updated text makes essential reading for Madeira aficionados and will inspire newcomers to sample the delights of these singular wines.