Ten years in the making and now he’s doing it all over again!
Julian D. A. Wiseman, author of the tome that many in port circles simply refer to as ‘The Bible’, is poised to launch his much-coveted second edition of Port Vintages and has just signed an exclusive distribution deal with Académie du Vin Library.
30th March 2022: “In 2018, after ten years of work, Port Vintages was finished” declared Julian D A Wiseman, as he self-published his first edition of Port Vintages. “The book was done. I could emerge from my cave and discover who else lived in the house … Well, I believed it was done.” Mightily relieved that the printing was indeed beautiful with a Victorian Penrose tile design jacket cover and full indexing, to his dismay Julian was then to discover that “the distributor’s post and packing proved to be a real disaster and much hassle followed!”
Next, readers of this 3kg heavyweight began writing to Julian, in their droves. The book itself comprised 390,000 words and yet apparently one avid port fan had read it no less than three times cover-to-cover before submitting a detailed critique. “Others sent new information, some of which contained clues leading to yet more” recounts Julian, as he relaxes into his favourite armchair with the tail end of a decanter of Fonseca 1985 in hand “… and also, deeply regretted, there was in fact an error! In July 2012 I recall clearly having tasted a Martinez 1948 and yet, somewhat staggeringly, it was missing from the book. {Looks at feet, somewhat contrite}. Mea culpa. It likely hurt me much more than you. Plus, of course, more new information, in 2018 unknown and arguably unknowable.”
Thus, it seemed fairly conclusive to all that there needed to be a second edition.
In the three short years since publication, said first edition had been described by George Sandeman as ‘the definitive reference book on old Vintage Port’ and as ‘Wisden’s for drinkers of vintage ports’ by Dominic Symington and as ‘an essential work for anyone interested in vintage port’ by Richard Mayson. The second edition promised to be all that, and so much more.
“But sell + print + distribute is really not my game” admits Wiseman “… it is a task for a professional, and there was one natural choice for the job. Hence, I am extremely pleased that Académie du Vin Library, founded by the late great Steven Spurrier and wine friends, has agreed to be the seller, printer and distributor of this hotly awaited second edition of Port Vintages.”
The ink on the deal with Académie du Vin Library will scarcely have dried by the time of the Big Fortified Tasting in Westminster’s Deans Yard. The plan is to make a discreet press announcement about the book deal with Hermione Ireland, MD of Académie du Vin Library at 2pm on the Taylor’s Port stand after which “Thunderbirds really are go!” says Julian with a broad grin.
Port Vintages by J. D. A. Wiseman are available to pre-order from Académie du Vin Library: https://academieduvinlibrary.com/product/port-vintages/ priced at £100 for the hardback, which will weigh in at approximately 3.25 kilos and be roughly 680 meticulously detailed pages in length.
‘The first edition was a tour de force from someone who has deeply researched all Vintage Ports ever made. The updated and extended second edition is a must-have for anyone who enjoys drinking, collecting, or just studying the fascinating subject of Vintage Port’ says Adrian Bridge, CEO at The Fladgate Partnership.
About Port Vintages:
Port Vintages is the definitive chronicle of Vintage Port over the last two and a half centuries.
In many wine regions of the world the best type of wine is made every year. This is not true of Vintage Port. The Port producers do not ‘declare’ a Vintage Port in every year, only in some, when they believe the wine will have enough power and durability and excellence. For most Port brands, this happens about one year in three. There is an obvious question: which years did which producers declare? There is an obvious route to the answer: ask them. They sent answers, some slightly wrong, some very wrong. Correspondence went along the lines of ‘Your list doesn’t include 1958, but your 1958 exists, and is good.’ Several previous books have included an appendix listing producers and years. Each has a list of producers by year, or years by producer, with no evidence and no verifiability. All those lists have errors, both of inclusion and omission.
Port Vintages has evidence of which Port producers declared which vintages, and for each, all the facts and stories that could be found. It is organised into producer chapters, and within those, by vintage.
In 2018, when Port Vintages was published, Julian had firmly intended that to be the end of that decade of work. “But after publication much more material was sent to me: by friends, by acquaintances and by strangers who became friends. Thank you. This second edition contains that extra data, and all of the good information from the first edition. Port Vintages is the definitive chronicle of Vintage Port. Enjoy, both the book and the drinking!”
Pre-order: https://academieduvinlibrary.com/product/port-vintages/ to secure early copies in the Autumn and to find out more, please visit www.portvintages.com after secure checkout.
About Académie du Vin Library:
‘First and foremost, we are wine lovers! Académie du Vin Library was founded by Steven Spurrier and friends, dedicated to publishing the finest wine writing of the past, the present and the future. The story behind the name came from Steven’s days in Paris in the 1970s, when he began running wine appreciation courses for his English-speaking friends.
‘Our list is small — and will never be large — because we value quality over quantity. We choose our books with care — above all for their readability, but also because we genuinely believe they have something important to say about the world of fine wine that will enhance your drinking pleasure.’
About Julian D. A. Wiseman:
“My first taste of Port was in October 1987 at matriculation dinner, Queens’ College Cambridge. Immediately I knew this was the wine for me but was too young and unwise to note what it was. Later I learnt that it might have been a 1970, a Vintage which is still drinking beautifully — but its era will soon end.”
Prior to Port Vintages, there are two things for which the Port trade has known Wiseman: “One as a consumer, I’ve drunk about twelve times my body weight of Vintage Port (not slender and 6’1½» ≈ 187cm). Portuguese law used to prohibit the sale of large bottles. In 2009 I persuaded the authorities to end that ban, and now most vintages are also offered in proper-size bottles: 300cl (double-magnum) and 600cl (Imperial). In March 2016 the Confraria do Vinho do Porto admitted me as an Honorary Confrade with the rank of Cavaleiro (Knight).”
Julian’s one previous book is ‘Pricing Money: A Beginner’s Guide to Money, Bonds, Futures and Swaps’ (Wiley 2001) has been available to download for free since 2019 available free. His undergraduate degree was in Mathematics, mostly pure.
On his personal website, www.jdawiseman.com are numerous white papers on how governments could better interact with financial markets and a design of a new electoral system. Also published is his bespoke software for making tasting placemats.
Julian D. A. Wiseman lives in London with his wife, MaryAnne Wiseman née Shiozawa
(a chiropractor), their children (Sophia, Max and Anastasia) and 3½ cats.
Addendum:
“One extra request” says Julian, “specifically for any oenophiles who didn’t know of this book at first publication. Please, my previous customers, kindly also be my natural ambassadors and thus my salesforce. Doubtless you know aficionados and connoisseurs who would want to have the definitive book on Vintage Port. Please forward this detail to them, prefixing sentences of high praise.”
andes@andeswines.com
