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SA Fairtrade Wines Take Top Honours

The South African wine industry is receiving widespread acclaim for its fairtrade practices and exports continue to grow despite the global recession. The industry took home most trophies and prizes in the Fairtrade Wine Committee’s competition for best wines of the year in London.

South African producers won the 2009 trophies for;

Best Overall Fairtrade Wine – Isabelo Pinotage 2008
Best Fairtrade Red Wine and - Isabelo Pinotage 2008
Best Fairtrade White Wine.- 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.

"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 Kate Lewis, Fairtrade's business development manager

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.

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.

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%.