Wine

No meal is complete without a bottle of good Spanish wine - both red and white are recommendable. Together with France and Italy, Spain is one of the largest wine producers in the world. High quality grapes of different varieties are grown in over 57 areas of Spain and three million tonnes of wine is bottled each year.

Rioja wine is the most famous of all varieties and comes from Rioja, a region considered to be the best for wine-growing. With 129,050 acres of vineyards, the climate and soil here turn out first quality wine grapes and strict official norms controlling production ensure first rate wines and guarantee the prestige these wines carry. Quality Rioja wines have a common feature, apart from their unmistakable bouquet and flavour - they are aged in oak casks for several years before being bottled. The most common Rioja grapes are Tempranillo grapes, which ripen fairly early on in the season and thus derive their name ("temprano" meaning early in Spanish). This wine is known for its high sugar and low acidic content.

Sherry

Sherry is the best known Spanish wine on an international level, given the huge yearly exports to various different countries. This fortified white wine originally comes from the Andalusian city of Jerez de la Frontera, where the first sherry producing vineyards grew. This wine is usually aged 5 to 25 years before being consumed. The five different kinds of sherry include "Manzanilla", "Fino", "Amontillado", "Oloroso" and "Los Dulces", (the latter referring to sweet Sherries).

Catalan Cava

Catalan Cava , a bubbly wine similar to champagne, comes from the Penedes region in Catalonia. Best sampled in a champagne bar, the superb quality of this excellent sparkling wine has put it on a par with French champagnes in some of the worlds most demanding markets.

Beer

Although beer has no traditional role in Spain whatsoever, it has become quite popular as of late. The number of breweries around the country are increasing and it is generally an inexpensive beverage. Not commonly taken at meal times, beer has mostly caught on in the tascas, or tapas bars.

Liqueurs

Spain has a wonderful assortment of liqueurs, each belonging to particular regions. A few that are especially recommended include:

• Herb liqueurs from Galicia and Ibiza
• "pacharan" from Navarre
• "cazalla" from Andalusia
• Anisette from Chichón (near Madrid)
• "Orujo" or "aguardiente" from the northern regions

Coffee

Coffee is definitely another favourite and must-have item on a list of typical Spanish beverages. It comes in many different ways but the most traditional way of taking coffee is a strong espresso just after lunch. The espresso is referred to as a cortado when just a drop of milk is added or as café con leche when the drop is increased to a "cloud". Asking for a carajillo will get you a cup of espresso with a shot of rum.

Why not enjoy a glass of Spanish wine right here in Spain? Come and join a Spanish Language Course in your favourite Spanish city!