In November 2008, according to Harpers Wine and Spirits Trade Weekly, the 2005 Soluna Premium Malbec swept the board at the third annual Fair Trade Wine Tasting at the Vinopolis trade convention in England. The Malbec won best overall Fair trade wine best Fair Trade red wine and best Fair Trade Argentinean red. The winery also sells an organic Malbec and Primus Malbec, a Gran Reserva wine.
More Argentinean Fair Trade Producers
The Organic Wine Trade Company has five Fair Trade wines produced in Argentina. All of the wines are from the storied Mendoza region of Argentina. There’s Fairhills Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, the Wandering Grape Merlot Malbec blend, the Neu Direction Malbec, and the Los Cowboys Malbec and Torrontes. According to the company’s Website, “Fair trade wines are farmed without harmful chemicals or genetically modified organisms (GMO). Instead they are farmed in favor of protecting the farmers’ health and preserving the land for future generations. The premium price paid to the farmers help to establish safe working conditions, improve local water conditions, build schools, construct safe housing, establish heath centers, and many more projects voted on by the community.” The Neu Direction retails for around $10US a bottle; the others cost a bit more.
The Solombra wines are Fair Trade and fairly priced as well. The Merlot and Pinot Grigio, produced by the La Riojana Cooperative in Argentina, sell for about $10 US a bottle and are available at some warehouse clubs in the United States. The company hopes to sell enough wine to build a brick hospital for the residents of Timilqui, a town near the cooperative.
Fair Trade For Foreign Markets
One troubling aspect of the Fair Trade wines of Argentina is that they are not available to wine lovers in their home countries. According to a representative of Fundacion Silataj, the wines are all exported and are not sold in the wine stores in Argentina. However, recognition of the importance of Fair Trade practices has grown. In May 2008, the Fair Trade Foundation released a study that stated seven out of 10 consumers recognized the Fair Trade logo on all products, up from about half the previous year.
Right now, Argentina joins Chile and South Africa as the only New World producers of Fair Trade wines. As awareness grows, they should be joined by other nations shortly.
Claudia Perry - Claudia Perry is a veteran journalist with expertise in food and wine, international sports, hockey, knitting, health and fitness as well ...
