I told you I was going to look for more details on the Fair Trade Wine Tasting at the Manchester Food & Drink Festival. That is Manchester, UK in case you wondered.
Here they come thanks to Natalie Goldsmith of the Co-operative.
I do not think it would add much for me to rephrase her desciption so I serve it to you as is:
The Co-operative Fairtrade Wine Tasting
Thursday 11th October 2007
Manchester Art Gallery
6pm – 9pm
For the 4th year running and as part of the Festival’s Fairtrade theme, The Co-operative Fairtrade wine tasting evening is being held on Thursday 11th October.
The Co-operative will be sampling 14 of the world’s best Fairtrade wines from regions as diverse as South Africa, Argentina and Chile.
- The Co-operative South Africa Du Toitskloof project : The Du Toitskloof wine co-operative in the Cape has been working with the Co-op since 2005. This is one of the largest Fairtrade projects in the world and is made up of 10 grape producing farms who will benefit from the project.
So far over £154,000 has been raised through the Fairtrade Premium and an additional Co-op income thereby doubling the money the growers receive through the sales of the wines. This income has been ploughed straight back into the community.
It is through this commitment and dedication and the result of an excellent crop, that we are proud to present the first Reserve Fairtrade wine – Co-op Fairtrade Cape Reserve Sauvignon Blanc. Three crèches for the children of workers have been unrecognisably improved, and the children now receive two nutritious meals a day, proper day care and monthly visits from a GP. The next stage of the project will focus on adult education, particularly HIV/Aids awareness, alcohol abuse, foetal alcohol syndrome and young motherhood.
- The Co-operative Argentinean La Riojana project: La Riojana is based in Chilecito, a remote town based in the Famatina Valley. It is the largest co-operative in Argentina assisting many smaller communities in the local area. They support 510 members, mostly small grape producers who rely on the co-operative for their existence.
In 2006, La Riojana in Chilecito became the first winery in Argentina to receive Fairtrade status and a few months after this, the Co-op launched the first Fairtrade Argentine wine in the UK. Currently, the joint body committee made up of workers from the vineyards and winery, is deciding where best to invest the funds from the project, although one project is already underway. The local village of Tilimuqui suffers from a very erratic water supply, so a new water pump has been installed, which ensures all the inhabitants have clean, regular water. It is exceptional that in such a short period of partnership with this project, that we are very proud to announce the first Argentine Fairtrade Reserve wine. We are sure that you will love our Co-op Fairtrade Argentine Organic Malbec Reserve as much as we do.
- The Co-operative Chilean Los Robles project: Vinos Los Robles gained Fairtrade accreditation in 2004 but has been working with its farmers to revolutionise their communities social and economic conditions for much longer. Their Joint Body Committee has identified the immediate needs of the community and the Co-operative is working with them on two of these key requirements, education and housing.
During 2007/08, money will be allocated to enable students to continue onto higher education and English is now being taught at some schools. A five year commitment from the Co-op allows the co-operative to agree future plans; this includes planting more vines, improved schools and a continued focus on education.
That’s it on Good Juice and Good Deeds.
This could be a winning theme for Wine Blogging Wednesday.
What do you think about it, Lenn?