LA RIOJANA SPREADS THEIR FAIRTRADE STORY IN GUERNSEY

La Riojana co-operative, together with Co-op, came together to celebrate this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight and the Co-op’s 30-year anniversary of supporting Fairtrade at a privately held Fairtrade wine tasting event at the Old Government Hotel in St Peter Port, Guernsey on Thursday 19th September 2024. 

The tasting, sponsored by Channel Islands Co-operative, was led by Co-op’s lead wine buyer Edward Robinson, who guided the 50 people who attended the event through a tasting of six Fairtrade wines from Argentina and South Africa. 

Four of the wines in the tasting line up, included the Co-op Fairtrade Pinot Grigio, Co-op Fairtrade Shiraz Rosé, Co-op Irresistible Fairtrade Organic Malbec and Co-op Irresistible Fairtrade Tilimuqui Sparking, all of which are produced by La Riojana co-operative. These wines were presented to the audience by Walter Carol, La Riojana’s Export Director, who as a guest speaker, was able to not only share details about the wines from La Riojana, but also share the story behind the wines. 

During the event, Walter explained how La Riojana’s 25-year-old relationship with the Co-op has helped change the lives for so many people living in La Riojana’s local wine community, through the sales of the Co-op Fairtrade wine range and the Fairtrade Premium that the wines have consequently generated.  

During Walter’s speech, particular focus was given to Tilimuqui, not only the name given to La Riojana’s recently launched Fairtrade Sparkling wine in Co-op, but also the name of the village which has benefitted in recent years from the construction of a Fairtrade-funded new water facility, secondary school and health clinic. 

After the event, Walter commented “Being able to deliver the Tilimuqui story in person is an excellent opportunity to help people understand that their choice to buy our Fairtrade wines is making a vital difference to our growers, workers and their families in Argentina. Without their support, we would not be able to implement the life changing projects that we have achieved. Most importantly it is these Fairtrade projects which are giving back our people their dignity.”