You can order and buy a wide range of fairtrade wine quickly and easily online at Ethical Superstore Wine Cellar (click to go to the site)
The results of the first ever Fairtrade Wine Awards were announced at the annual Fairtrade Tasting on Thursday November 1st at Vinopolis.
Harriet Lamb, Executive Director of the Fairtrade Foundation handed out the certificates to the winning producers during the trade tasting.
“I am delighted to be presenting these awards to the winning producer groups,” she said.
“These awards acknowledge the quality of Fairtrade wines and will hopefully encourage more wine-lovers to try them. It is only logical that producers give their best wines to their best customers – and with the Fairtrade premiums they often invest in improving the quality of their wines.
“These wines are not only top quality for the consumers, but also open the door to improved quality of life for the farmers and workers. In such a fast growing sector as wines, it is encouraging to see the wine community increasing awareness of Fairtrade and so bringing benefits to producers in the developing world. Congratulations to all who entered their wines in to this first competition, and above all to those who won.”
The wines were judged by wine writers Liz Morcom MW, Sally Easton MW, Julie Arkell, Patricia Langton, Christine Austin, and David Williams, and Marks & Spencer buyer Jo Ahearne. Louise Vaux from WSTA chaired the judging.
48 wines were entered from the three Fairtrade wine producing countries: Argentina, Chile and South Africa.
The feedback from the judges was positive, with a number commenting favourably on the quality.
A top white and top red were selected from each country, and the finalists were retasted to award the overall white and red winners. The results were as follows:
BEST ARGENTINE WHITE FAIRTRADE WINE
Co-op Fairtrade Torrontés-Chardonnay 2007
BEST CHILEAN WHITE FAIRTRADE WINE
Equality by Las Lomas Sauvignon Blanc 2007
BEST SOUTH AFRICAN WHITE FAIRTRADE WINE
Co-op Fairtrade Cape Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2007
BEST ARGENTINE RED FAIRTRADE WINE
Origin Fairhills Shiraz-Tempranillo 2007
BEST CHILEAN RED FAIRTRADE WINE
Co-op Fairtrade Chilean Carmenère 2006
BEST SOUTH AFRICAN RED FAIRTRADE WINE
Isabelo Pinotage-Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Chile proved to be the number one Fairtrade wine producing country, scooping both accolades of Best Overall White and Red fairtrade wine:
BEST OVERALL WHITE FAIRTRADE WINE
Equality by Las Lomas Sauvignon Blanc 2007, Chile
BEST OVERALL RED FAIRTRADE WINE
Co-op Fairtrade Chilean Carmenère 2006, Chile
The winning white fairtrade wine is produced in Chile’s Maule Valley by Las Lomas in Cauquenes, and the brand, Equality, was launched in the UK market only last year. The Sauvignon Blanc is available in Threshers and selected independent wine merchants around the country.
The top red is produced for the Co-op by Los Robles in the Curico Valley, and is available in all 3000 stores across the UK. This wine has been in the range since 2001 and its popularity continues to grow.
The evening consumer tasting following the trade and press day was attended by a record
number of visitors. Speaking at the event, Oz Clarke reinforced the tangible benefits that many communities are enjoying through the sales of Fairtrade goods such as wine.
During the tasting, visitors voted for their favourite wine in the People’s Choice Awards. There were joint winners, the white Traidcraft Torrontés 2006 and the red Thandi Pinot Noir 2004.
The Fairtrade Wine Awards were set up by the UK Fairtrade Wine Committee in order to raise awareness of the high standard of Fairtrade wines now available. Made up of licensees representing the fairtrade wines in the UK, this committee is the only one of its kind in the Fairtrade sector, whose members actively collaborate to raise the profile of its products to the UK wine trade and the consumer, and the benefits to the workers and local communities that produce them. The committee also organises the annual Fairtrade Wine Tasting.
According to Emma Sundt, Business Development Officer at the Fairtrade Foundation, wine
represents one of the fastest growing sectors of Fairtrade goods in the UK. “In the few years that Fairtrade wine has been imported from the three main countries, we have seen that this sector is increasing significantly year on year,” Emma reports.
“Wholesale wine volumes increased 116.7% in 2006 compared to the 2005 volumes. The UK is by far the biggest consumer of Fairtrade wine, with 2.5 million litres sold last year alone, representing a market value of £7 million. This amounts to around 1% of the overall wine market in the UK.”
The Fairtrade Wine Committee is chaired by Nick Day of Ehrmanns. “We hope that these
awards will raise the profile of Fairtrade wines even further, as well as highlight the excellent quality and value for money that this sector offers” he said.
You can order and buy a wide range of fairtrade wine quickly and easily online at Ethical Superstore Wine Cellar (click to go to the site)