Fairtrade Awards
South African producers won the 2009 trophies for Best Overall Fairtrade Wine, Best Fairtrade Red Wine and Best Fairtrade White Wine. The top prize and also the prize for best red went to Isabelo Pinotage 2008, while the prize for the best white went to Six Hats Sauvignon Blanc 2009. The title of Best Fairtrade Sparkling Wine was won by the Co-operative Fairtrade Cape Sparkling Rosé NV, produced by Du Toitskloof Cellars.
Kate Lewis, Fairtrade's business development manager, said close to 4,5 million litres of Fairtrade-certified wines were sold in the UK last year. Research by Globescan earlier this year also found that 87% of UK consumers believed the issue of payment to farmers or their workers in developing countries was important
"Many South African wine producers have embraced the Fairtrade principles while building their quality credentials. The Fairtrade Wine Committee awards, now in their fourth year, show just how well they are doing," said Lewis
Decanter, a prominent British consumer magazine with an international readership, chose six South African wines for its top ten list of Fairtrade wines. These included wines from Isabelo, Hope's Garden, Thandi, Fairhills and two produced for the Co-operative Group.
Ethical Award
Wines of South Africa, or WOSA, won the Ethical Award 2009 for Project Laduma, a programme to train 2 010 wine stewards before the 2010 World Cup. Candidates for the training were chosen from the hospitality industry and the ranks of the unemployed. The project is funded through Fundi Wines, created for the purpose and sold in a range of markets, including the UK, North America and Japan.
“The Fundi project both excited and impressed the judges, not only because it was innovative but they felt it was an initiative that would have real value and benefit on an ethical level. The idea of combining an international event with education and training in wine for people who would not necessarily get a chance to learn about the product shone above the other entries in the category," said Charlotte Hey, director of The Drinks Business.
According to Su Birch, CEO of WOSA, the awards came at a particularly important time. "Worldwide, as businesses face increasing economic pressure, workers become more vulnerable. We are able to show that tougher trading conditions do not necessarily have to impact on ethical labour standards.”
Earlier this year, WOSA was selected for The Drinks Business Green List for its role in building public awareness of the environment. WOSA was listed in fifth position, just behind US President Barack Obama (in fourth), but ahead of any other national wine marketing body.
South Africa boasts the fastest growth rate of wine sales amongst its competitors in the UK with a volume share of the market at just over 10%.
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