South Africa is the largest producer of Fairtrade wines in the world.
Wines of South Africa (WoSA), and partner DHL, worked with Fairtrade Africa at ProWein 2024, to deliver a series of seminars highlighting the importance of Fairtrade wines in the country and the positive work the organisation is doing to improve the lives and communities in the Cape winelands.
Fairtrade wine ensures producers in developing countries receive fair prices for their products, promoting sustainable development and improving livelihoods through fair labour conditions, environmental sustainability, and community development initiatives.
South Africa is the largest producer of Fairtrade wines and WoSA says with the industry’s commitment to sustainability, both social and environmental, this is an important story to communicate.
The ProWein 2024 trade fair took place in Düsseldorf, Germany from 10-12 March and welcomed wine experts from all over the world from the retail and catering sectors. The focus was on around 5 400 exhibitors from 65 countries.
Over the course of the show, six seminars were held focusing on the stories of South African brands that carry the Fairtrade mark.
Presentations were given by Van Loveren, Stellenbosch Vineyards, Perdeberg Cellar, Du Toitskloof Wines, Org de Rac Organic Wine Estate And Koopmanskloof Vineyards.
How it started
Fairtrade – the organisation that sets labour standards – first certified wine in 2003. Its involvement in this sector stemmed from concern around the labour conditions of workers on large wine estates, as well as the difficulty faced by smallholder wine growers in developing countries to earn a decent living.
Vineyards that are Fairtrade certified receive at least the Fairtrade Minimum Price when they sell their wine (grapes) to a trader on Fairtrade terms. This protects against sudden price shifts and enables producers to plan beyond the next planting and harvesting cycle. The Fairtrade Minimum Price for wine (grapes) varies depending on the cost of living and business in each origin area and on its cultivation method (it is higher for organic than for conventional cultivation).
The Fairtrade Premium – extra funds paid on top of the sales price – enables small-scale farmers and vineyard workers to invest in social, economic and environmental improvements.
Fairtrade has rigid health and safety standards to protect producers’ well-being as well as that of nearby communities and ecosystems.
For instance, Fairtrade bans the use of some highly toxic agro-chemicals that are often sprayed in vineyards and prescribes rules for the safe application of less toxic ones.
Fairtrade also fosters workers’ abilities to form or join independent trade unions and enter into collective agreements with vineyard owners.
