There has been a rapid transformation in Portuguese wines during the last years of the 20th century. A new wave of young, forward-thinking winemakers has been getting to grips with Portugal's unique range of grape varieties, and quality has improved dramatically. This reference to Portuguese wines, including Port and Madeira, explains the intricacy of Portugal with its native grapes, dozens of wine regions and hundreds of small, quality-conscious producers. It covers the history of the wines, the geography, climate, grape varieties, cork and vintages and also considers the principal wine regions including the Atlantic, the mountains, the plains and the islands. The title also examines Portugal's rose and sparkling wines.