The republic of Haiti occupies the western third of La Hispaniola, one of the larger islands in the Caribbean Sea. Its neighbor, The Dominican Republic, is one of the largest and most economically developed of all Caribbean countries. This stands in stark contrast to Haiti, which ranks among the poorest and least developed in the world, according to the United Nations Human Development Index. French is one of the two national languages of Haiti, a reminder of the island's colonial past.
Wine grapes are not grown in Haiti's warm, humid climate, so there is no Haitian wine to speak of. Even the local rum production is relatively low key, as sugar is not one of the country's key exports as it was in the early 20th century. Nonetheless, Haitian rum is produced and exported.
