Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Introduction to French Articles

French articles are sometimes confusing for language students because they have to agree with the nouns they modify and because they dont always correspond to articles in other languages. As a general rule, if you have a noun in French, there is virtually always an article in front of it, unless you use some other type of determiner such as a possessive adjective (mon, ton, etc.) or a demonstrative adjective (ce, cette, etc). The French language has three different kinds of articles: Definite articlesIndefinite articlesPartitive articles The table below summarizes the different forms of French articles. French Articles Definite Indefinite Partitive masculine le un du feminine la une de la in front of a vowel l un/une de l plural les des des    Tip: When learning new vocabulary, make your vocabulary lists with a definite or indefinite article for each noun. This will help you learn the gender of each noun along with the word itself, which is important because the articles (as well as adjectives, pronouns, and just about everything else) change to agree with the gender of the noun. French Definite Articles The French definite article corresponds to the in English. There are four forms of the French definite article: le  Ã‚  Ã‚  masculine singularla  Ã‚  Ã‚  feminine singularl  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  m or f in front of a vowel or  h muetles  Ã‚  m or f plural Which definite article to use depends on three things: the nouns gender, number, and first letter: If the noun is plural, use  lesIf its a  singular noun  starting with a vowel or  h  muet, use  lIf its singular and starts with a consonant or  h  aspirà ©, use  le  for a masculine noun and  la  for a  feminine noun Meaning and Usage of the French Definite Article The definite article indicates a specific noun.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Je vais à   la banque. /  Im going to the bank.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Voici le livre que jai lu. /  Here is the book I read. The definite article is also used in French to indicate the general sense of a noun. This can be confusing, as definite articles are not used in this way in English. Jaime la glace. /  I like ice cream.Cest la vie! / Thats life! Definite Article Contractions The definite article changes when preceded by the preposition  Ãƒ  Ã‚  or  de  Ã¢â‚¬â€ the preposition and article contract into a single word. French Indefinite Articles The singular indefinite articles in French correspond to a, an, or one in English, while the plural corresponds to some. There are three forms of the French indefinite article. un  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  masculineune  Ã‚  Ã‚  femininedes  Ã‚  Ã‚  m or f plural Note that the plural indefinite article is the same for all nouns, whereas the singular has different forms for masculine and feminine. Meaning and Usage of the French Indefinite Article The indefinite article usually refers to an unspecified person or thing.   Jai trouvà © un livre. /  I found a book.  Il veut une pomme. /  He wants an apple. The indefinite article can also refer to just one of something: Il y a un à ©tudiant dans la salle. /  There is one student in the room.Jai une sÅ“ur. /  I have one sister. The plural indefinite article means some: Jai achetà © des pommes. /  I bought some apples.Veux-tu acheter des livres? /  Do you want to buy some books? When referring to a persons profession or religion, the indefinite is not used in French, although it is used in English. Je suis professeur. /  I am a teacher.Il va à ªtre mà ©decin. /  Hes going to be a doctor. In a  negative construction, the indefinite article changes to  de, meaning (not) any: Jai une pomme. / Je nai pas de pommes.I have an apple. / I dont have any apples. French Partitive Articles The partitive articles in French correspond to some or any in English. There are four forms of the French partitive article: du  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  masculine singularde la  Ã‚  Ã‚  feminine singularde l  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  m or f in front of a vowel or  h muetdes  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  m or f plural The form of the partitive article to use depends on three things: the nouns number, gender, and first letter: If the noun is plural, use  desIf its singular starting with a vowel or  h muet, use  de lIf its a singular noun and starts with a consonant or  h aspirà ©, use  du  for a masculine noun and  de la  for a feminine noun Meaning and Usage of the French Partitive Article The partitive article indicates an unknown quantity of something, usually food or drink. It is often omitted in English. Avez-vous bu du thà ©? /  Did you drink some tea?Jai mangà © de la salade hier. /  I ate salad yesterday.Nous allons prendre de la glace. / Were going to have some ice cream. After  adverbs of quantity, use  de  instead of the partitive article. Il y a beaucoup de thà ©. /  There is a lot of tea.Jai moins de glace que Thierry. /  I have less ice cream than Thierry. In a  negative construction, the partitive article changes to  de, meaning (not) any: Jai mangà © de la soupe. / Je nai pas mangà © de soupe.I ate some soup. /  I didnt eat any soup. Choosing a French Article The French articles may seem similar at times, but they are not interchangeable. Below, learn  when and why you should use each one: Definite ArticleThe definite article can talk about a specific item or something in general. Jai mangà © le gà ¢teau. /  I ate the cake (the whole thing, or the specific cake that we were just talking about).Jaime les films. /  I like movies (in general)  or  I like the movies (that we just saw). Indefinite ArticleThe indefinite article talks about one of something and is the easiest of the French articles. It can almost be guaranteed that if what you want to say requires a, an, or one in English —  unless youre talking about someones profession — you need the indefinite article.   Jai mangà © un gà ¢teau. /  I ate one cake (there were five, and I ate one of them).  Je veux voir un film. /  I want to see a movie. Partitive ArticleThe partitive is usually used when discussing eating or drinking because one normally only eats some butter, cheese, etc., not all of it. Jai mangà © du gà ¢teau. /  I ate some cake (one slice, or a few bites).Je cherche de leau. /  Im looking for some water. Partitive Article vs Indefinite Article The partitive indicates that the quantity is unknown or uncountable. When the quantity is known/countable, use the indefinite article (or a number): Il a mangà © du gà ¢teau. /  He ate some cake.  Il a mangà © un gà ¢teau. /  He ate a cake.

Monday, December 23, 2019

Technology And Its Effect On Society - 1396 Words

Technology on its own cannot be beneficial or detrimental to the cognitive ability and the human relationship. Its effect on society depends on how and when technology is used. Technology continues to interact with our human experience in some way or the other. It is profoundly reshaping how we live today and giving rise to new strand of lifestyle and custom. With the rise of technologies, we expect to gain from its advances in the field of communication, social interaction, research and development. However, some technological advances and its overuse are redefining social interaction and the cultural fabric of society. Gradually, the overuse of internet and mobile technology seems to be destroying the significance of interactions we have with others, disengaging us from the people around us and leading to a sense of isolation in today’s society. A 2014 Nielsen survey found on average, Americans spend 60 hours a week consuming content across various digital devices (Nielsen). We now mostly communicate by phone calls, texting and instant messaging, rather than spending time in person with friends and family. Overuse of internet is giving rise to new form of online relationship and weakening the traditional personal relationship we used to have. As a society, our critical thinking as a generation is declining in comparison to that of past generations, as we evolve from practical researchers and applicators into online gatherers of information. As misappropriation andShow MoreRelatedTechnology : The Effects Of Technology And Society1283 Words   |  6 Pages The effects of technology with society has beneficial impacted the way we live. With technology is providing many advantages, but also it has some disadvantages it has on children and adults. There is little room for people that wish to live without technology, moreover than living the way they did in the old days. Technology has its advantages, it’s has changed the way people have communicated by email, social media, the way traveling has improved. Have you ever heard the saying ‘Children are bornRead MoreTechnology And Its Effect On Society871 Words   |  4 PagesWhat is technology? Is it the tool that propels humanity forward or is technology the cuffs that hold the everyday man from leaving his own comfort. Or is technology more than a tool, more than a mechanical device? Ray Bradbury s Works are known 4 expanding technology and using speculative fiction to reveal the way technology is consuming the everyday person. but what if Ray Bradbury was never talking about technology and its effect on society with society s effect on technology? It is assumedRead MoreTechnology And Its Effect On Society1386 Words   |  6 PagesTechnology is the collection of techniques, skills, methods and processes used in the production of goods or services or in the accomplishment of objectives, such as scientific investigation. Technology can be the knowledge of techniques, processes, etc. or it can be embedded in machines, computers , devices and factories, which can be operated by individuals without detailed knowledge of the workings of such things. Technology has produced many positive contributions to society and how it has grownRead MoreTechnology And Its Effect On Society Essay1239 Words   |  5 Pagesworld is increasing very rapidly, and new innovations are coming along each and everyday. Technology is the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry (Oxford). There is no denying that the impact of technology in the world today is huge, now technology has made it to the palm of our hands with the iPhone and continuing to expand. My generation has grown up on technology so I can’t imagine how my life would be with out it, older people may say it has ruined theRead MoreTechnology And Its Effect On Society Essay1204 Words   |  5 Pagesthe world is increasing very rapidly, and new innovations are coming along each and everyday. Technology is the application o f scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry. There is no denying that the impact of technology in the world today is huge, now technology has made it to the palm of our hands with the iPhone and continuing to expand. 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(â€Å"Technology†) In addition, technology has become a basic necessity for people all around the world. Not only does technology have positive effects on how people function in the world, but it also has many negative effects. On a similar topic, technology has improved the way we live tremendously, but people have become extremely dependent on it, almost to the point to whereRead MoreTechnology And Its Effect On Society1694 Words   |  7 PagesTechnological advances have certainly entered this era to facilitate people’s lives. There is no doubt that some new technology has been created to help operate or effectively manage time in a way that would be beneficial to humans. Technology significantly helps a number of people. A group that greatly benefits with the advances of technology is teenagers. Teens co nstantly use computers for schoolwork, networking, or knowing anything they want to know with a simple use of their fingertips. FurthermoreRead MoreTechnology And Its Effects On Society1372 Words   |  6 PagesTechnology Abuse Technology has rapidly increased over the past few years and has had a great impact on everyone in several ways. The impact of this applied science on people’s lifestyles has made several too dependent on technology. There needs to be a specific limit to technology that is reasonable but considerable for everyone. This new addiction is truly significant because this modern world of ours can have dangerous consequences that we are not aware of. In the past, many of the machines andRead MoreTechnology Effects On Society : Technology Essay1986 Words   |  8 PagesTechnologies Effects on Society We are all guilty of constantly looking down at our phones looking to fill the void of an awkward silence or just to make the time go by faster. We become oblivious to the notifications. We find ourselves scrolling through an endless list of emails, reminders, and checking the likes we get on our latest Instagram post. We become wrapped up and lose track of valuable time because we are so engrossed in things that should be of little importance to us. It is no secret

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Sex Change Free Essays

The issue of sex (besides being a national obsession) is reasonably interesting from a psycoanalytic and existential perspective. A lot of what drives us is sexual energy (in line with what Freud told us). This so-called energy isn’t explicit, but if you stop to think about questions like â€Å"Why am I here? † the â€Å"I† refers to you as a being and your sexuality is intimately tied with that. We will write a custom essay sample on Sex Change or any similar topic only for you Order Now That â€Å"I† differs quite radically based on whether you are male or female. From a purely reductionist perspective, we are simply â€Å"ugly bags of mostly water† (to use a phrase from Star Trek) for our genes. The main reason we have sex is so our genes can last. The reason that there’s sexual dimorphism (as opposed to having only females reproducing asexually) is so the gene pool can be enriched and it is thus capable of withstanding sudden changes in environment. This is actually the reason why there is sex in the first place, but having dimorphism means having a gene pool (thereby phenotype) that’s more varied. The sociological perspective is somewhat interesting, but I think it’s very irrelevant. In the end, the psychological (perhaps biological) dominates and therefore it it is the one I will consider. I have always wondered what it would be like to be female. I have wondered what it feels like to experience the menstrual cycle each month, to give birth, etc. My perception of what â€Å"I† consitutes would be radically different, I assume, notwithstanding the sociological consequences of becoming female. Human males and females are pretty different in their genetic makeup, given that an entire chromosome present in males is not present in females (and this doesn’t even address the issue of expression). This brings us to the interesting fact that a lot of textbooks quote: chimpanzees and humans have DNA which is more than 99% identical. I wonder what the basis of their comparison is, but I digress†¦ A few decades ago, the above sort of thinking would’ve been mere speculation. Existentially speaking, we are prisoners of our bodies and this sucks. But we humans, being the creatures with superior intellect (yeah, right), have taken control of our environments and now it is possible to reasonably answer some of the questions I ask above in a physical sense. I read an article (parts of which are reproduced here without permission) about this dude who underwent a sex-change operation to be female because he wanted to be a lesbian. He was considered a womaniser, but he really identified with girls and expressed his sexuality by cross-dressing, etc. But after a while he began the process of change. He took females hormones—the most effective blend being premarin, derived from the urine of a pregnant mare—-to produce breasts, greater sub-surface fat, diminished muscle mass and less skin oil than a man normallly secretes. However, hormone treatments cannot shrink the Adam’s apple, alter the hips, or raise the voice; male vocal chords are irreversibly developed by adolescence. He also underwent a lot of sartorial changes as well. Finally the irreversible operation known as â€Å"neo-colporrhaphy†, or â€Å"new vagina†, was performed on him. Contrary to popular myth, this two-and-a-half-hour surgery does not involve the penis being cut off. It is instead emptied of its spongy tissue and, like the finger of a rubber glove, turned inside out. The skin of the penis is gently pushed into a cavity formed by separating the lower abdominal muscle fibres, and this inside-out formation becomes the vaginal lining. The scrotum is used to create the frontal lips of the vagina; some of the skin at the base of the inverted penis can be surgically sculpted to look like a clitoris. Enough of the urethra is preserved from the penis to tunnel it under the tissue and place it in the female position. (There was a reasonable discussion during the Beer Social here regarding the logistics of such an operation—in particular the issue of providing lubrication was thought important. ) According to John Money, a professor emeritus at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, who’s an expert on this procedure (I can see a lot of demand for it): â€Å"The majority of transsexuals no longer have the spasmodic sensation that comes from squirting out semen. They have, instead, more of a spreading glow that is very satisfactory indeed. † This dude (now dudette) is also married with kids and they still call her â€Å"daddy†. She and her wife get along very well and they find the relationship physically very satisfying. While I share a lot of the philosophy that prompted him to become a transvestite, I doubt if I would undergo such an operation. Perhaps if technology advances so that it can be done in a â€Å"perfect† way, but approaches like this somehow don’t grab me. This isn’t the only way to go. If you’re female, you might contemplate becoming male. I read a while ago about how a female had an operation to have a penis implant. Such physical moves seem very drastic to me, even given what I said earlier about sexual energy driving us. Is the artificial physical change necessary in order to experience a female (or male) existence? While the reason for contemplating what it is to be female is mostly curiousity, it might have to do with my nurture as well. It is said that transsexuals are unhappy with their identities and that they seek an out, but will a physical transformation help them? Shouldn’t reconcilation of one’s identity with one’s self, and transcendence of that identity beyond societal norms, be enough? If you are Cartesian (and to some extent I am), it should be. Maybe Freud was completely off about the Oedipus complex—maybe it’s something akin to the Penis Envy thing he proposed—there’s some sort of a Vagina Envy among males. Thanks to modern science, this envy can be sated. The surgery costs about $11,000. If you include other plastic surgery such as a nose job and breast implants, the total cost is about $25,000. Now to raise some money†¦ How to cite Sex Change, Essay examples

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Wines of Spain free essay sample

Yes, we knew all these but we overlooked the important point of how all these happened. Well, those who are unfamiliar with Spain’s wines and are interested to learn something new, are welcome to come along and discover the world of Spanish wines and their production history. What is Wine? Put very simply, wine is a drink made from the fermented juice of freshly-picked grapes. As such it is often described as one of the most natural of all alcoholic drinks. However, wine is more than just an alcoholic grape juice. There are many influences on how a wine looks, smells and tastes which give a wide variety of styles. That variety will give a wide selection of wines to choose from in a bar, restaurant or shop. To be more specific, there are three types of wine: light, sparkling and fortified wine. Each one of them can be made in a variety of styles according to the color (red, white and rose) and the taste (dry, medium, sweet). History of Spanish Wine Wine has touched many of history’s greatest events. For centuries, wine has been the drink of choice of poets, novelists, playwrights, artists, and composers. It is unclear precisely where  vines were first cultivated in Spain or who brought the winemaking techniques. Various sources believe the first vineyards were cultivated on the southwest coast of Andalusia. As the years gone by, the Romans  continued to produce wine in this area, introducing their own particular techniques over time, for example, the ageing  in small clay amphorae in sunlit attic areas or next to chimneys. According to contemporary accounts these wines acquired floral and fruity aromas and flavours and an appreciated smoky taste. In the 8th century, the arrival of the Arabs slowed the winemaking development as the Koran prohibited the consumption of alcoholic and fermented drinks. Despite this religious prohibition, the cultivation of vineyards continued as  certain dynasties were  liberal in their treatment of the dominated Christians and allowed them to continue making  wine, particularly in the monasteries. Spanish winemaking really prospered after the conquest of Spain by the Catholic Kings. The re-established religious monasteries and communities played a major role in this process.. After the phylloxera epidemic in the late 19 century, France imported wines from Spain to make up the local shortfall. The wines were not as French expected them to be and so French winemakers went to Spain and introduced their winemaking techniques which included aging in oak barrels. But instead of choosing French oak barrels, Spanish winemakers chose American oak which can create a stronger flavor to the wine. For the last few years, Spanish winemakers were trying to place Spain on an  equal level with winemakers as good as the Italians and the French by renovating their winemaking processes. Lately, the gross human apparent annual consumption of wine in Spain has been and stands currently at 22 liters per capita. The total domestic use is expected to continue declining as producers still keep increasing sales of wine to export markets. Data released by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Affairs and based on a research of 12,000 households, indicates that the consumption of wine in households increased by 7 % in the year to November 2012. However total household expenditure with the same products increased only by 2 %. According to wine industry specialists this means people are buying more wine in supermarkets as the economic crisis makes them turn to drink wine inside the household. Furthermore, it means that consumers are more price-sensitive and prefer less expensive products. Chart 2. Consumption by Households, Spain (2012/2011) Chart 3. Value of Household Consumption of Wine, Spain Spanish Grape Varieties Today Spain has more than 146 acknowledged wine varieties which make Spain one of the most varied wine cultures in the world. At this point we are going to see alphabetically some of the most common Spanish varieties. * Spanish Red Grape Varieties Alicante, Bobal, Callet, Carinena, Cencibel, Garnacha, Graciano, Juan Garcia, Listan Negro, Manto Negro, Mazuelo, Mencia, Monastrell, Moristel, Prieto Picudo, Tempranillo, Trepat * Spanish White Grape Varieties Airen, Albarino, Albillo, Caino, Dona Blanca, Garnacha Blanca, Godello, Hondarribi, Listan, Loureira, Macabeo, Malvasia, Moscatel de Alejandria, Palomino, Parellada, Pedro Ximenez, Torrontes, Treixadura, Verdejo, Viura, Xarel-lo Ageing Classification System of Spanish Wines Wines are classified according to the amount of time they have spent ageing in the winery, meaning that they are not sold until they are ready to drink. * Crianza Any bottle with the word Crianza on the label, the Spanish word for ageing, means that the wines have spent at least two years at the winery before being sold, with at least one of those years spent in oak barrels. Crianza wines can be identified by their cherry red back label. The wines are still young, fresh and juicy with cherry and strawberry fruit flavours typically found in wines made using Tempranillo grapes, along with hints of vanilla and spice from the oak barrels. Reserva These wines are made from select grapes and have spent longer ageing at the winery than Crianza wines. They spend at least one year in oak barrels, a further two years at the winery and are only released for sale when they have reached optimum maturity. Reserva wines have a deep red back label. The flavors in these wines are more complex, with l ots of layers and more depth. They often have an explosion of aroma and taste sensations that continue to evolve in the mouth. Gran Reserva Gran Reserva wines are only made in the best vintages using the finest grapes. They must spend at least five years in the winery, including two years in oak barrels and three years maturation in the bottle. Gran Reserva wines are identified by a teal blue back label (previously brown red). They are the classic and often the most traditional Rioja wines, ranking amongst the finest wines in the world. Quality Classification System of Spanish Wines The mainstream quality wine regions in Spain are referred to as Denominaciones de Origen (similar to the French Appellations) and the wine they produce is regulated for quality according to specific laws. * Estate Wines (Vinos de Pago) This is one of the innovations found in the Vineyard and Wine Act. It is the highest established category for a wine, and comprehends wines of recognized prestige made from grapes grown under climatic and soil conditions distinctive to a certain place or rural site. The production and marketing of these wines must comply with a comprehensive quality control system that must, as a minimum, fulfil the requirements applied to a Qualified Denomination of Origin. Further, these wines must be made and bottled in the winery of the specific vineyard or within the municipal area where that vineyard is located. In cases where the entire vineyard is located within the boundaries of a Qualified Denomination of Origin, and is registered under that designation, it will be allowed to receive the name of â€Å"qualified vineyard,† and the wines produced there shall be labelled as qualified vineyard wines. * Qualified Denomination of Origin Wines QDO (Vinos de Denominacion de Origen Calificada DOCa) This category is reserved for wine that has achieved high levels of quality over a long period of time. The first designated wine  to enter this class was Rioja, in April 1991. The requirements that must be fulfilled to attain this status include the following: Denomination of Origin (DO) status for at least the previous 10 years; all products must come to market bottled in wineries located in the region where they are produced or which follow a suitable quality control system imposed by their monitoring and regulating body. * Denomination of Origin Wines DO (Vinos de Denominacion de Origen DO) Wines bearing the DO distinction are prestigious Spanish wines produced in a specific production area and are made according to the parameters governing quality and type. Each DO must be regulated by a Governing Body (Consejo Regulador) that is responsible for ensuring the use of grapes of the authorized varieties, and compliance with parameters governing production per hectare, approved methods of wine making and ageing times. In order for wines to be given Denomination of Origin status, the production area is required to have been recognized over at least the previous five years as a region producing quality wines with a geographical indication. Quality Wines with a Geographical Indication (Vinos de Calidad con Indicacion Geografica) This is another category established for the first time  in the Vineyard and Wine Act. It designates wines made in a certain region using grapes grown in that same region  whose quality, reputation or characteristics are due to the geographic environment,  the human factor or both, as regards the production of the fruit and the making or ageing of the wine. * Vino de la Tierra (VdlT) Country wines which do not have EU QWPSR status but which may use a regional name. There are currently 46 Vino de la Tierra regions in Spain. Vino de Mesa (Table Wine) is bulk-grown, usually drawn from a wide variety of regions and hence has no vintage or area designation on the label, apart from Produce of Spain. Production of this low grade of Spanish wine is falling year on year. In the following map you can see 69 Protected Designations of Origin (PDO, Denominaciones de Origen Protegidas), 14 Estate Wines (Vinos de Pago) and 7 Qualified Estate Wines (Vinos de Calidad). The second map is detaili ng the 41 Spanish Protected Geographical Indications (Indicaciones Geograficas Protegidas) or Country Wines. DOCa Wine Regions Rioja, Spain’s oldest and most famous wine region became it was the first to receive the DO classification when the system was set up in 1926. And when the system was refined in 1991, Rioja became the first region to be promoted to DOCa status. The Spanish grape variety Tempranillo is king in Rioja. Other grapes such as Garnacha, Graciano, and Mazuelo are used for blending, but Tempranillo takes always the center stage. The wines range from delicate and light to big and alcoholic. The Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Oceans influences combined with the mountain formations create a special and favourable environment for the vines there. It is these conditions, with varied soil types and complex topography, which set Rioja to the top of the Spanish wine regions. Priorat DOCa is best known for its powerful red wines, made predominantly from old-vine Garnacha grapes, sometimes with the addition of Carinena. Priorat is quite remote and rocky with the unique  terroir, which combines the poor  llicorella soil with a range of mesoclimates created by the sheltering influence of the nearby mountain ranges. The principal varieties grown there continue to be Garnacha and Carinena. But, there have been successful experiments with international grapes such as Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, DO Wine Regions There are over 70 designations of origin to classify all the types of Spanish wines. The purpose of this is to unify all the wines from one part of Spain, that typically have common characteristics due to being produced under the similar weather and the types of water and soil. This makes it easier for customers to know what wine theyre buying, and it also provides a guide of some sort to identify all the different Spanish wines. * Castile-La Mancha Found in the middle/southeast of Spain, is known all around the world for being the setting for the famous novel Don Quixote, written by Miguel de Cervantes. It is also home of the largest vineyard in the world and Spanish wine region, approximately 8% of the worlds wine production takes place here. * Andalucia Composes most of the south of Spain, and its the heart of many renowned Spanish traditions. The most important designation of origin in Andalusia is the Jerez DO, under which the famous andalusian sherry is produced. * Aragon Lies in the northeast of Spain, its northern frontier touching the Pyrenees. From the verdant valleys surrounding the Ebro to the rocky terrains and permanent glaciers near the Pyrenees, Aragons variety of climates produces very different wines. For example, Cava DO. Sherry Sherry is a fortified wine (15-20% alcohol) from Spain. It comes in a range of styles from bone dry to lusciously sweet. It is primarily made from the grapes: Palomino, Pedro Ximenez and Moscatel, depending on the style. Sherry comes from the region of Andalucia in southeastern Spain. It comes from 3 towns: Jerez de la Frontera, El Puerto de Santa Maria and Sanlucar de Barrameda. These 3 towns make up what is known as the â€Å"Sherry Triangle†. Sherry styled wine is also produced in Montilla-Moriles in the southern part of the province of Cordoba, from the Pedro Ximenez grape. * Styles of Sherry Fino: served chilled, bone dry, pale and nutty in flavor great with olives, jamon amp; seafood Manzanilla: served chilled, an especially light stlye of Fino from Sanlucar de Barrameda Amontillado: served chilled, amber in color with an intense nutty, toasty flavor Oloroso: dark, savory and rich, pairs well with dry fruits, game, red meats and cheese Palo Cortado: the rarest of sherries, has the richness of oloroso with the crispness of an amontillado Cream: a blend of dry and sweet sherries, on the sweeter side, pairs with desserts and cheese Moscatel amp; Pedro Ximenez (or PX): dark and sweet, great with sweets and strong cheese Cava Cava is the famous Spanish sparkling wine made from native grape varieties and should not be regarded as cheap Champagne. Only two wines in Spain are not legally required to carry the words DO on the label and Cava is the first, the other being Sherry. Not really a region, Cava is a unique category on its own. While 95 % of Cava wine is grown in the vineyards in and around Penedes, sparkling wine has been produced for decades in other areas such as such as Valencia, La Rioja and Aragon. Wine Tourism in Spain Spains distinct wine regions have the geologic features, a microclimate and soil composition that separate it from neighboring areas. That gives travelers the opportunity to choose from guided package tours to self-guided tours throughout the different wine regions. The guided packaged tours typically include transportation, winery visit, meals, accommodations and sometimes sightseeing. Travelers can also enjoy private wine tastings, urban walking tours, two gourmet meals per day and accommodation options ranging from luxury hotels to country inns. These wineries require advance booking for package deals that include a tour, wine tasting and a meal or accommodation. As of 2011, entrance fees to Spanish wineries average around 6 to 8 â‚ ¬. At most wineries, this cost includes both a tour and wine tasting. Some wineries also offer traditional food along with the wine for a few additional euros. Conclusion The upshot of all this is that we gave you a very brief introduction to Spain’s wine history, its wine regions, classification systems and special wines. Although none of this information was deeply analyzed in this report, they gave a significant amount of knowledge and ultimately introduced you to the Spanish wines and their production history. Recommendations These findings challenged me to taste some Spanish wines. After an enthusiastic research and some professional recommendations, I was able to choose the following wines: * Rioja Gran Reserva 2004 Marques de Caceres A blend of a 15% mix of Graciano and Garnacha Tinta and 85% Tempranillo, this wine is only made in excellent or very good vintages. It undergoes nearly two-and-a-half years of ageing in highest quality oak barrels, followed by further ageing in bottle before release. Dark red colour with intense bouquet of fruits that open out with a very refined oak in the background.