Foot Trodden: Portugal and the Wines That Time Forgot

A stunning book on one of Europe's top wine-producing countries Portugal's rich wine culture dates back at least two millennia. Its vineyards teem with fascinating native grape varieties and its cellars harbor heritage wine styles and ancient techniques (including foot treading in stone troughs) that have died out elsewhere. Foot Trodden is a book for everyone who loves a good story, wine, Portugal or modern social history--and for anyone who wants to dig deeper into Portuguese culture and the Portuguese soul. Written in an accessible, narrative style, this book is above all else about the people behind the wines: the challenges they faced, what drives them, and how they succeeded against the odds to put Portugal on the map. With 80 specially commissioned photos, beautiful layout and design, Foot Trodden is crammed full of detail and depth about the wines and winemaking, but it's emphatically not a text book or a Master of Wine study guide. You don't need to be a wine geek or a history nut to enjoy it--this book is written for everyone. Through eight chapters, Foot Trodden takes you on a journey from north to south, from the past to the future. The diversity of characters, landscapes and wines will have you salivating for your next bottle of Portuguese wine--and dreaming of the moment when you visit these historic winemaking regions.

Review: "[A] delightful grape-filled tour of the country ... and a deep dive into the ancient art of talha winemaking, where grapes are crushed by foot, then fermented in large clay vessels that are eventually sealed over with a paste made of resin, olive oil, and beeswax. For those curious about the wider world of wine, this sweeping history will bear fruit."--Publishers Weekly