The story of Fairtrade wine at the Co-operative begins even before there was any agreed international criteria for wine to carry the Fairtrade Mark. The Co-operative working with Traidcraft the UK’s largest Fairtrade organisation took the pioneering step to set up a relationship with Los Robles co-operative in Chile to source a wine produced using ethical standards. 

In 2004 the Fairtrade standard for wine was established and since that time Fairtrade wine sales at the Co-op have exceeded 30 million bottles of white, red, rose and sparkling wines. In  fact 52% of Fairtrade wine is sold by the Co-operative with £2.5 million in social premiums going back to the growers and their communities. 

So take a trip to the Co-op and look out for Fairtrade wine and enjoy a glass or two!

To read more go to www.co-operativefood.co.uk/magazine   July/August 2014  pg. 41