As Spain succeeds France geographically, so it follows it in the excellence of its vinous productions. Throughout all ages this country has been distinguished for its wines. But the Spaniard's chief glory under heaven is in the preparation of white dry fortified wines such as sherries, and sweet wines such as Malagas. In the province of Andalusia is situated Xeres de la Frontera, and the convent of Paxarete, which produces a rich sweet sparkling drink. Here, too, are the vines of the vino secco and the abocado, and Rota, 1 which produces Andalusia's best red wines. Here are Ranico, Moguro, or Moguer, a cheap light wine, Negio, and the capital Seville. Catalonia yields a large quantity of red wine shipped to England mostly as a drink for the general. The Malaga of Granada is well known. Sherry 2 wines are, or ought to be, the products of Cadiz, including Xeres de la Frontera, San Lucar de Barrameda, - where Tintilla, an excellent Muscadine red wine, is manufactured, - Trebujena, and Puerto de Santa Maria. The celebrated wine known as Manzanilla 3 is made in San Lucar de Barrameda. Val de Penas 1 wines are commonly red. After the perfection of age, this celebrated product of La Manche 2 is, in the opinion of Redding, equal to any red wine in the world. Much wine of Catalonia is now imported into England as Catalan Port. Borja produces a luscious white wine. The country about Tarragona on the road to Barcelona is almost wholly occupied with wine making. Beni-carlos, La Torre, Segorbe, and Murviedro, are all fair wines of Valencia. Alicant produces an excellent red wine, vino tinto, strong and sweet; when old, this wine is called Fondellol. Vinaroz, Santo Domingo, and Perales, offer red wines of moderate excellence. The best wines of Aragon are Carinena and the Hospital, from the vine which the French call Grenache. In Biscay, at Chacoli, a vino brozno, or austere wine, is produced in large quantity. The best is made at Vittoria, and called Pedro Ximenes. 3 Fuencaral, near Madrid, offers a good wine seldom exported. The most famous wine-growing district of Granada is that of Malaga, termed Axarquia. This produces Malagas, Muscatels, Malvasies, and Tintos. The red wines called Tinto de Rota and Sacra are unfermented with only enough spirit for preservation, and are commonly advertised in our wine circulars as "suitable for sacramental purposes." Guindre is flavoured with cherries from which it derives its name.

1 Rota wines are mostly coloured, or Tintos, whence our English sacramental drink. They are all simmered - at their best in youth, and their worst in age.

2 Supposed by some to be the old English Sack. The reader interested may consult Hakluyt, Nicols, Hewelps Dictionary, and Venner's Via Recta.

3 The etymology is uncertain. Some derive it from the town near Seville, others from the Spanish word for an apple, and others again from that for a camomile flower.

1 Valley of Rocks, indicating the soil on which it is grown.

2 It is frequently damaged by the carelessness of the vinatero, or wine-seller, to such an extent that the proverb Pregonar vinoy vender vinagre becomes, like wisdom, justified of her children.

3 So called from the grape common in most parts of Spain.

Into this wine, as into some others, the Spaniards are wont to put roasted pears, under the conceit that thereby it is much improved in taste and rendered more wholesome. Hence arose the proverb El vino de las peras dalo a quien bien quiéras. Malaga Xeres is often known in England as the pale, gold, dry sherry,l as the wines of Alicant, Benicarlos, and Valencia are sold as a rich and fruity Port. The so-called Amontillado Sherry is very often the outcome of accident. Out of a hundred butts of sherry from the same vineyard, some, says a great authority, will be Amontillado, without the manufacturer being able to account for it. At Cordova, a dry wine called Montilla is commonly drunk.