Image taken on 2007-08-22 16:09:38 by dachalan.
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South America has gradually become one of the world’s largest and best-loved wine producers. Like Australia and New Zealand, it has taken time to develop and grow its market, but it now makes up a huge proportion of the wine that is available to us through our supermarkets, retailers and wine distributors.
In Latin America, the two countries which produce the most wine by far are Argentina and Chile. Both have wine traditions which go back to the times when they were Spanish colonies and hence viticulture is very much part of the region’s history. In this article, we will look at both countries, both historically and as to their position in today’s wine market.
Argentina now stands proudly in the top five of the world’s biggest wine producers. It has a high consumption within the country itself, Argentines are very fond of red wine to go with their high consumption of local red meat, and exports have risen over the years, making it one of the world’s most exciting New World wine regions. Initially, wine making was introduced to the country by the Spanish, but the industry has been influenced by immigrants such as Italians and Germans, whose love of viticulture has transformed the Argentine wine making patterns and helped make it a successful Export business.
Because of the extensive history of wine making in the region, Argentina has seen the evolution of many local grape varieties, including Torrorité’s (white wine), Malbec (red wine) and Corbeau (also red). Malbec is the favoured Argentine variety, and it has also been found to be the most successfully exported variety. The other industry that has grown on the back of wine making is wine tourism, which means Argentina is the place to go for a different kind of wine holiday than you get in California, France, Italy and Germany.
Wine making in Chile has a similar kind of provenance to that of Argentina. However in Chile Bordeaux varieties arrived in a big way as early as the mid 1800s, and Chile is now one of the top wine producers in the world. Traditionally, Chilean vineyards were in semi-arid regions which are irrigated by water from the Andes, but there has been a surge in interest in the cooler areas, for instance the Llegda Valley which is starting to become recognised for its Pinot Noir.
New World Wines are generally grown in hotter climates than their more Northerly cousins. The grapes tend to get riper, and therefore the resulting wines tend to be more alcoholic – something to keep an eye on when drinking these nectars. The wines are also fuller in body and therefore go well with highly spiced foods and red meats.
For a great range of South American wines, or just to browse wine in general, it is a good idea to consult an independent online wine retailer. You can browse wines in your chosen price range, and you can research before you buy. Fiona Muller has been writing for over 20 years. She is a qualified journalist and has worked in food and drink writing for the last few years. For more information on wine, go to www.laithwaites.co.uk
South Florida and Miami in particular is a magnet that draws shoppers from South & Central America and the Caribbean. It seems as if at every neighborhood in the city there is a mall and there is variety in the malls. There are strip malls, regular malls, outlet malls. Shopping in Miami is year round but seems to reach a fever pitch on the 3rd Friday in November which is the day immediately after the American Thanksgiving holiday. Known as Black Friday because the hordes of shoppers are expected to drive retailers into the black (profit). Black Friday is a day of deep discounts that marks the start of the Christmas shopping season. At some malls shopping starts at midnight, while at others the shopping begins at 5am. As soon as the stores open the hordes descend. South Florida is also a magnet for migratory and Neotropical birds. Located along the Atlantic Flyway, Florida is in the pathway of birds migrating from their summer breeding grounds in northern and central U.S.A. to their winter grounds in Central or South America and the Caribbean. For some species Florida is their winter home. An abundance of ponds, lakes and waterways means that Florida is especially good for waterbirds. This dual magnetic force means that during Thanksgiving you can combine two passions; shopping and birding. Or husbands can accompany wives to the mall and while the wife shops the husband indulges in some bird watching. Dolphin Mall located on NW 12th Street off the Florida Turnpike is a good location. The Mall has a huge selection of stores with a wide variety of items. The mall also has two ponds along 12th Street next to the mall parking lot. Among the birds that can be seen in those ponds are Anhingas, Coots, Grey Herons and Snowy Egrets. At other malls, the desire to introduce greenery into an asphalt and concrete jungle has resulted in trees around and within parking lots. These trees have in turn attracted various bird species. So simply wandering the parking lots gives you the opportunity to see different species of birds. Even if you do not go near the malls on Black Friday, it is easy to indulge in bird watching in South Florida. The numerous lakes and ponds in residential areas attract birdlife particularly waterfowl. Among the most easily seen Florida waterfowl are Double-crested Cormorant, Pied-billed Grebe, Common Moorhen, Green (Green-backed) Heron and the most common waterfowl found in Florida’s suburban areas, Muscovy Ducks. The Intracoastal Waterway and other canals along the highways and roads are also good locations for spotting avian life and it is easy to stop at an attractive spot. For the more dedicated birdwatcher South Florida has an abundance of state and national parks. So when next you are planning a trip to South Florida, remember, you can combine shopping and bird watching.
Brian Ramsey is the author of , Discovering the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago, and operates the web site , Outdoors Trinidad. For a free subscription to his monthly magazine Caribbean Outdoor Life, which features outdoor activities in the Caribbean plus advice on recreational activities, visit his site, Caribbean Outdoor Life
Latin Americans are famously laid-back – so much so that people often say you should reset your watch to a different pace of life when landing in the region. However, don’t be seduced into thinking that just because people seem relaxed, they won’t get offended by anything! As with travelling anywhere, there are always a few sensitive areas you need to be aware of – and Latin America is no different! Religion While Latin America seems to ooze sexuality when it’s depicted in the Western media, many parts of the region are deeply religious. As a result modest dress and behaviour are highly recommended: there are plenty of beaches where you can strip off, so there’s no need to do it elsewhere! To avoid feeling the need to bare all, make sure you invest in some loose fitting, cotton clothes. As most Latin Americans are Catholic, Sundays are of real religious significance. On this day, double your efforts to seem modest (and don’t expect too many shops to be open)! Plus, while churches are great places to visit, remember that they are places of worship too. Drugs The ‘war on drugs’ in Central and South America is not called a ‘war’ for nothing: while drugs here are more readily available than at home, possession and other drug-related offences are dealt with pretty harshly. As such, getting involved with drugs in South America does not come highly recommended, especially as police searches are very common. Also, while chewing coca leaves is a popular past-time in Bolivia, Peru, Chile and Argentina, make sure you don’t travel with them. Outside of Latin America, most countries make no distinction between the coca leaves and any other substance containing cocaine. (Don’t) watch your space Communication in South America is far from a timid affair: conversations are bigger, brasher and feature a lot more hand gestures. A by-product of all this means your personal space is not as sacred as it might be back at home! Stepping back from someone who’s talking to you may be considered rude, so try and leave your inhibitions behind and get involved yourself! Don’t get snap-happy It’s a common reaction to whip out a camera and start merrily snapping away whenever you see something interesting. Usually this isn’t too much of an issue in Latin America, but may cause problems if you start photographing kids, people in traditional dress or government officials. Your best bet is to ask first – imagine how you’d feel if someone thought your jeans and t-shirt were weird and starting taking pictures of them! Re-set your watch! Although it differs in each country, Latin Americans tend to have a more relaxed attitude to timekeeping than in the West. Perhaps it’s the laid-back attitude to life or the extra few hours of daylight you get, but punctuality is not a big concern here! If you’ve arranged a meeting with someone try and clarify if they mean a time exactly or approximately, as it may prevent you from standing around waiting for everyone to arrive! http://www.i-to-i.com/campfire/travel-guides/3-Cultural-considerations-in-Africa
Spanish is one of the two most popular languages in South America, the other being Portuguese. Almost 90% of South American population speaks Spanish and it is the official language of many South American countries. Spanish is a popular language mostly because of South America’s historic connection with Spain. Spanish language schools are becoming increasingly popular because it is presently a very lucrative language to learn. Besides South America, Spanish is spoken in all the leading continents. It is also spoken in Philippines in Asia, in Africa and of course in Europe. The Spanish language is one of the most popular and simple foreign languages for those who already know English. The phonetics of the Spanish language is same as English, which makes it comparatively simpler to learn. With economic growth and expansion of South American countries, Spanish language schools are becoming increasingly popular. Enrolment in Spanish language schools increased with many South American countries signing the North America Free Trade Economy (NAFTA). The signing of this treaty leads to better trade relations between these countries and the Spanish language schools have thus become very important to the business world. Knowing a foreign language can give people an edge over their peers in the work place and people realise that learning Spanish can be of great advantage in their professions. People are queuing up for Spanish schools in their own countries but the best way to learn this language would be by enrolling in Spanish language schools situated in a Spanish speaking country. One can learn Spanish in South American countries like Argentina, Peru, Chile or Patagonia through the Spanish school ‘Latin Immersion’. Latin Immersion is a Spanish language school that provides you with the opportunity to study Spanish while experiencing the South American culture. Latin Immersion offers Spanish courses in 12 group levels. The initial eight levels concentrate on the basic elements of the Spanish language like vocabulary, pronunciation, conversation skills and grammar. These eight levels can teach you adequate Spanish for practical purpose. The next four levels concentrate on advanced reading, conversation and writing. It takes two weeks to complete a single level of Spanish language under the Spanish language school, Latin immersion. One must pass a written test to attend the next level. The classes are generally very small with a maximum of six students per class. Every student gets proper attention from the teacher because of the class’s small size. Unlike other Spanish schools, this school also provides the facility of individual instruction for a student if they so desire. Classes are held in two batches, morning and afternoon, and a person may join any of them. At times people need to learn Spanish for their specific profession. For instance, a doctor who wants to practise in a Spanish speaking country must know more about medical terms. This Spanish language school provides special courses for their students with specific interests. Private courses are offered in law, business, social services, and other fields. A single course consists of 20 hours of class time, which provides one with enough lessons and at the same time leaves enough time for practice. Since, you will be in a Spanish speaking country you can practise your language skills with the local people. Communicating with the local people in cafes, shops and restaurants can help you improve your spoken Spanish as well as your Spanish listening and understanding skills. Studying at this Spanish language school will result in a wholesome learning of the language. Spanish is spoken with different accents in different places if you choose the Argentina-Chile combination special Spanish learning programme, you can study in Buenos Aires as well as Santiago. You can experience different cultures and accents through the change of place but your studies shall not be affected. You can also choose to study in Chile, Peru and Argentina together if you enjoy travelling and want to experience a wide variety of cultures along with studying Spanish. Very few Spanish schools offer the type of special programmes, which Latin Immersion does. There are many special courses like DELE Exam Preparation, which help students pass DELE (Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranjera). A foreigner must pass the DELE to be internationally recognised as capable of speaking and writing in Spanish. It is one of the best Spanish language schools to train you for DELE and it provides training for all three levels at reasonable rates. Latin Immersion also provides with free extra tutorial help if required. There are various other special courses like Spanish-ski and Spanish-wine, which is offered by Latin Immersion. Latin Immersion has many activities planned for their students, which result in a rich Latin American experience. It would be unfortunate for a person to travel all the way to Latin America and not experience their culture. There are varieties of experiences one can enjoy while studying in South America like white-water rafting, salsa, festivals and many more such events. It would be a pity if a student studying in Buenos Aires left without watching their amazing theatres. Most Spanish schools do not plan outings and social events for their students but Latin Immersion does. Latin Immersion makes your visit to South America worthwhile by taking responsibility of coordinating various activities and social events. They organise a great variety of outings like football matches in Argentina, Pablo Neruda’s house in Chile, Tango shows in Buenos Aires, Vineyard tours in Santiago, Salsa practice and regional cooking lessons. Weekend excursions to villages and coasts help the students in understanding and gaining knowledge on South American lifestyle. It is also very easy to improve fluency in Spanish while travelling. Travelling is a better way to improve fluency as compared to classroom lessons in Spanish language schools. Latin Immersion can also arrange for you to live with a local family. You can also live in shared apartments but living in a family can help you practise in a natural surroundings. Spanish schools in South America like Latin immersion can be of great value since you can experience the South American culture and learn the Spanish language in a natural environment. www.latinimmersion.com Latin Immersion offers Spanish language course in South American countries. It provides the opportunity to experience a new culture and learn the Spanish language through the Spanish classes and by interacting with the local people.
Gracing the dance floor for the first dance at your wedding can leave you with several feelings: 1. You always knew you were a great dancer; this just confirms it, everyone at the wedding was able to learn something from you. 2. You’ve always enjoyed dancing, but you feel like you could enjoy it more if you actually knew some steps. 3. You feel like maybe your dancing could be better with less champagne and perhaps a little instruction. If you answered b or c, then perhaps it’s time to take some classes? It’s difficult to say exactly where in the world the capital of dance lies, but few would dispute that it’s probably somewhere in Latin America; a melting pot of cultures, the fusion of African and European influences has resulted in an incredibly rich music and dance tradition. Why not plan your honeymoon in South America to take in several different destinations and become a master of them all? Luxury travel experts Dehouche offer tailor made packages throughout Latin America and in addition to internal flights and accommodation are able to organise as little or as much of your itinerary as you wish. Be it Tango classes in Buenos Aires, Samba in Rio de Janeiro or Salsa in Cali. Dehouche are based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where offices and shops close for almost a whole week each year so that people can dance with abandon in the street without respite, and standing uncomfortably on the sidelines is tantamount to offense. As such, they’re well aware how easily you can feel intimidated in the midst of people who seem to be born with not just a basic instinct to dance, but a seemingly natural ability to do so both well and effortlessly. So if you don’t yet know your samba from your rumba and you think Cha-cha-cha is a drink, do not worry, there is help at hand. Dehouche can arrange for a private teacher, so even if you’re truly embarrassed at your lack of dancing ability, there’s nothing to fear. Let one of Dehouche’s patient, English speaking teachers guide you through the steps and you’ll soon be the one giving the lessons to your friends back home. Let Dehouche arrange your luxury boutique hotel and enjoy a whole host of insider tips on where to truly escape from it all on your honeymoon. Leblon, Rio de Janeiro , Brazil. |
Caracas
September 8, 2010, 9:30 am
 Intermittent clouds 23°CBogota
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 Mostly cloudy 26°CFalkland Islands
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Intermittent clouds 2°CCaracas
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Intermittent clouds 23°C
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