Cheers to Fairtrade wine producers

Enjoying a glass of wine is the perfect way to relax for many people.

But, how much do you know about the bottle in your hand and who worked to fill it?

Lara and Juan (pictured above) are from Argentina. Their father works for La Riojana co-op which is a supplier of Fairtrade wine.

La Riojana co-op’s Argentine Malbec, Malbec Rose and Sauvignon Blanc wines are stocked in most Lincolnshire Co-op stores.

It has a workforce of more than 250 people and its growers can harvest some 4,000 hectares of vineyards between them.

However the majority of its growers own only small parcels of land, often no more than three hectares. Many live in the villages and communities close to La Riojana’s main winery in Chilecito.

Fairtrade Premiums, together with further funding from Co-op Group, has helped build the secondary school that Lara and Juan attend and improve water supply to the family’s village.

The water project helped workers from La Riojana co-operative’s vineyards, living in Tilimiqui, to renovate the old supply and give the almost 400-strong community access to regular, clean water.

A new healthcare centre is also on the way.

Choosing to buy Fairtrade ensures producers like Lara and Juan's father – and their communities – benefit and your hard-earned cash helps change lives.

And as a Lincolnshire Co-op member each time you buy Fairtrade products in your local food store, until Sunday 12th March, you’ll receive 10% dividend.

You can find plenty of other Fairtrade products on Lincolnshire Co-op shelves including tea and coffee, bananas and chocolate.

From the end of May, all the cocoa used in Co-operative products will be Fairtrade.

Only a small amount of the estimated 5.5 million farmers who depend on cocoa for their livelihoods are experiencing the fairer deal Fairtrade can bring.

Why not celebrate with this Fairtrade banana and peanut butter pancake stack recipe? The finished dish is drizzled with silky Fairtrade milk chocolate.

We’ll be posting more about the Fairtrade products we stock and how producers benefit as Fairtrade Fortnight continues.