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Wine snobs brace yourselves, because Fairtrade wines are ready to compete with the rest of the wine-world on quality. Yesterday, at Vinopolis in London, the UK Fairtrade Wine Committee held its first ever Fairtrade Wine Awards to celebrate the quality of the increasing amount of ethical wines in British shops and restaurants.
The Co-op was a favourite in the blind tasting carried out be independent wine judges with three winners, including the Best Overall Red -- its Chilean Carmenère 2006. But other, smaller companies also made their Fairtrade Mark in the competition with Equality by Las Lomas winning the Best Overall White category with its Chilean Sauvignon Blanc 2007. Origin Fairhills' Shiraz-Tempranillo ran off with the Best Argentine Red award, and Brand New World's Isabelo Pinotage Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 won the Best South African Red category.
Joanne Kain from the Co-op said: "We want to prove that our Fairtrade wines are as good as any quality wine on the market."
SmartPlanet moseyed around the 15-plus stalls and, although it wasn't even midday, felt obliged to taste the delicious drops. Whereas, just a few years back there would normally only have been one Fairtrade wine in our local supermarket, this was a Fairtrade -- and in many cases organic -- wine lover's mecca. The quality has without doubt also improved immensely over the past couple of years; Equality has proved that by winning the first gold medal for a Fairtrade red wine in the International Wine Challenge 2006.
Sales of Fairtrade wines have risen massively, with wholesale wine volumes increasing 116.7 per cent in 2006 compared to 2005 volumes. As Equality's Julia Trustram Eve says: "The sales going up shows that there are an awful lot of people out there that don't have an issue with Fairtrade wines, and these awards are an endorsement of the quality."
Whether we buy Fairtrade wine for its ethics or its quality, it's encouraging to know that it's now possible to get our thirst for both quenched at the same time.
16 April 2008 09:26pm
Where can I order the wine ? within Germany or Europe??
Thanks for a quick answer
Verena Gorris
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Discover the brilliant experienced people who are helping SmartPlanet through the green and ethical minefield.
