, located near Wellington." width="1000" height="600" class="gu-image" /> Wine has been socially and culturally significant to human society for thousands of years. Today there are many thousands of vineyards and wineries around the world producing a wide variety of flavourful wines.
Just as each country produces its own unique variety of grapes and blends, producers in these communities also face unique economic, social and political challenges.
Large wine plantations in the developing world depend very heavily on hired labour, relying on seasonal labour during the grape harvest. In many such cases, hired workers, many of them employed on a temporary basis, are not protected from labour abuses. Farm workers are frequently excluded from decision-making structures and are offered no special provisions for accessing health, transportation, and/or educational services.
In recognition of the need to develop a more sustainable and fair wine industry, Fairtrade standards were introduced in 2004, focusing on the protection of workers’ rights and the environment, payment of a Fairtrade Minimum Price per kilo of grapes purchased and an additional Fairtrade Premium to be invested in business or community projects. The Co-operative Food played a pioneering role, listing the first ever Fairtrade certified wine in 2004.
“This year we reached the milestone of selling our 50 millionth bottle of Fairtrade wine, an accomplishment which seemed far off when we started out,” says Co-operative Food Fairtrade wine buyer Edward Robinson, “Key to this success has been forging close relationships with the producers involved, working together not just on blending the wines themselves, but on the social projects which the sales of the wines support – this is no ‘off the peg’ venture for us.”
There are currently Fairtrade certified wine producer organisations in South Africa, Brazil, Lebanon, Argentina and Chile.
Turning wine into water in Argentina
Small family farmers cultivating wine grapes in Argentina are susceptible to low market prices which do not generate enough income to meet their family’s basic needs, limiting their opportunity to invest in improving farming systems and threatening their livelihood.
In the rural village of Tilimuqui, poor infrastructure meant that villagers often lacked water supply, for sometimes up to four days. In a place where summer temperatures can climb to 45C, having no regular water supply has had a huge impact on the health and hygiene of the villagers.
A Fairtrade and Co-operative partnership with Argentina’s La Riojana wine-cooperative, however, was the critical factor that turned wine into water for this community. Funded by sales of Fairtrade wine in the UK, the community was able to invest in a water facility.
“Before the water project, the water supply used to cut out a lot and we would have to spend up to 4 days without water to drink, to cook with and to wash with,” says vineyard worker Rene Alejandro Garcia, “We are now able to have water 24 hours a day without a problem. It has greatly improved our quality of life because it is very difficult to live without running drinking water.”
In addition, Tilimuqui also boasts one of the single largest Fairtrade-funded projects in the world – a secondary school specialising in agriculture, increasing choices for young people in the local region by offering an alternative to the more traditional secondary education.
Positive echoes heard through the South African grapevine
In South Africa, the apartheid system limited the opportunities for economic advancement of the majority of the population and left a legacy of poor employment conditions and labour relations in the wine industry.
Among the pioneers leading the way in Fairtrade wine-making in South Africa, is Bosman Family Vineyards, located near Wellington in South Africa’s picturesque Western Cape. Winemaking by the Bosman family on the site stretches back eight generations to 1798.
In 2008, the vineyard turned its hand to establishing its ethical credentials with a move in support of the black economic empowerment initiative. Fairtrade certification followed in 2009, forming the ultimate marriage of quality wine produced to ethical standards. Workers own 30% of the business.
“A sense of ownership has a wonderful positive effect on how workers see their daily workload. If you are doing something for yourself and your community – and not just for an employer – the level of dedication and enthusiasm is quite different,” says winemaker Corlea Fourie, “This is why we believe that Fairtrade accreditation does, in the long run, lead to an enhanced quality of wine – because of the level of skill and dedication which goes into making it. This is something which we are working hard to prove in every bottle of wine we make.”
Cultivating the future of Fairtrade wine
The popularity of ethically sourced wine is showing no signs of abating. More and more producers are switching to Fairtrade – indicating a bright future for sustainably produced and sourced wines. Fairtrade and Co-operative Food will continue to work with wineries to further improve the quality and variety of Fairtrade wines on offer. And, most importantly, to ensure that every glass of Fairtrade wine that is poured, contributes to support worthy projects benefiting those who made it.
This year as you choose your Fairtrade wine for your Christmas party you can be making a positive contribution to the ever-growing climate of positive change in the industry
Why not toast to that this Christmas!
Co-operative Food, the world’s largest retailer of Fairtrade wines has launched a new report (pdf) highlighting their longstanding and ongoing support for Fairtrade wine communities and the tangible impact on people’s lives.
Content on this page is paid for and provided by Fairtrade Foundation, sponsor of the spotlight on commodities series
