FAIRTRADE AND ORGANIC SUCCESS AT THE INTERNATIONAL WINE CHALLENGE 2023

We are thrilled to announce that we have won a great set of awards at this year’s world-renowned International Wine Challenge, including two Silver, three Bronze and four Commended medals. The results for which were announced on 18th May 2023.

The Silver medals were awarded to our Tilimuqui Fairtrade Organic Malbec 2022 and to the Co-op Fairtrade Irresistible Organic Malbec 2021, which is part of the award-winning range of own-label wines we produce for the Co-op, UK. Notably both our Silver medalist wines are Organic and Fairtrade certified.

The Tilimuqui Fairtrade Organic Malbec 2022 was the highest scorer with 92 points and was described by the IWC as a “complex wine with changes in the glass! Muted nose reveals coffee, and smooth flavours of purple and red fruits. Long, elegant and interesting.”

The Co-op Fairtrade Irresistible Organic Malbec 2021, which was awarded 90 points, and was described as “supple and plush with a rich, dark, fine, chocolate, cherry and brambled fruits, coffee and splash of vanilla to finish”.

The IWC awarded Bronze medals to three wines we also produce for the Co-op, including the Co-op Fairtrade Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, Co-op Fairtrade Merlot 2022 and Co-op Fairtrade Bonarda-Malbec 2022.

In addition to this, four Commended medals were awarded by the IWC to the Co-op Fairtrade Torrontes Chardonnay 2022 and Co-op Fairtrade Pinot Grigio 2022, as well our Ecologica Fairtrade Organic Shiraz Malbec 2022 and Ecologica Fairtrade Organic Torrontes Chardonnay 2022.

LA RIOJANA ATTENDS FMCV PRE-FORUM IN URUGUAY

In preparation for the World Forum of Wine Co-operatives (FMCV), due to be hosted by La Riojana Co-operative in October later this year, we attended the Pre-Forum event held in Canelones, Uruguay on 25 – 27 April 2023. 

The event itself attracted presidents and managers from wine co-operatives from across Europe and South America, as well as technicians, scientists and public officials from Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina and Italy. All of whom came together to debate the main challenges faced by the wine industry. 

Alfredo Capece, President of the FMCV and La Riojana Co-operative, opened the event stating that wine co-operatives produce 60% of the world’s grapes and yet are only marketing 12% with their own brands. He went on to say that one of the greatest challenges faced by the co-operatives is giving added value to the raw material so that it can return a better income to the producers. 

Pau Roca, Managing Director for OIV (International Organization of Vine and Wine) addressed the Pre-Forum, via a letter, stating that the voice of the co-operatives must be heard more clearly within the wine industry. 

Running alongside this same event, a Youth Pre-Forum was also held, where proposals included a fundamental change in the approach to marketing within the wine industry, orientating it more towards the consumer, incorporating alternative options for consuming wine, lower alcohol wines, ecological packaging and flexible volumes.

The World Forum of Wine Co-operatives (FMCV), due to be hosted by La Riojana, will take place in Chilecito, Argentina on 5 – 7 October 2023. 

The FMCV is made up of Cevipe, Vinadeis, Baco, Bodega Cuatro Rayas, Gruppo Caviro, Manjavacas, Bodegas Martin Códax, Adega Vila Real, Adega Ponto da Barḉa for Europe; and Capel, Fecovita, La Riojana, Establecimientos Vicca, Vinícola Aurora, Garibaldi, São João, Nova Alianca, Pradense for South America; and CCW Co-operative for Oceania.

DOUBLE GOLD TRIUMPH FOR ECOLOGICA

La Riojana was delighted to receive Gold Medals for its two popular Ecologica Fairtrade and Organic certified wines in the Gilbert & Gaillard International Challenge. The gold medals were awarded to Ecologica’s Bag in Box wines in March 2023 and were tasted blind by a selected panel of judges, made up of industry professionals including specialised journalists, winemakers, and sommeliers.

Ecologica Familias Torrontes Chardonnay 3 Litre Bag in Box 2022 (60% Torrontes / 40% Chardonnay blend) was awarded a Gold Medal and 86 points and perceived by the competition judges as a “beautifully fresh, rounded and persistent vintage”. 

Ecologica Familias Reserve Shiraz Malbec 3 Litre Bag in Box 2022 (60% Shiraz /40% Malbec blend) was also awarded a Gold Medal and 86 points and was perceived by the competition judges as having “a beautifully smooth palate, with an exotic aspect bringing to mind eucalyptus.”

“Winning gold for both of these Ecologica wines comes as wonderful news” comments Walter Carol, Export Director for La Riojana, “Ecologica has been one of the top selling Argentine wine brands in Sweden for a number of years now and we are delighted that these wines have received the recognition that they deserve. The fact that they are both Fairtrade and Organic makes it even better.”

LA RIOJANA LAUNCHES ARGENTINA’S FIRST FAIRTRADE ORGANIC OLIVE OIL

La Riojana has already got a reputation for being one of the world’s leading producers of Fairtrade certified wines, however it is probably a lesser-known fact that La Riojana co-operative also produces over 4.5 million kilos of olives annually and has been growing olives, alongside wine grapes, in its olive groves in the Famatina Valley for over 50 years.

Now, seven years on from receiving Fairtrade certification for its olive oil, making the co-operative Argentina’s and Latin America’s first Fairtrade certified olive producer, La Riojana is very excited to become the first producer from Argentina to be launching a Fairtrade certified olive oil in the UK.

The dry, sunny conditions found in La Rioja’s Famatina Valley, where the olives are grown, provide the ideal environment for organic cultivation and for producing naturally healthy olives.

The product, Co-op Irresistible Fairtrade Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, a fruity blend of premium olives, including Arbequina, Arauco, Manzanilla among other olive varieties, is being sold in 25cl bottles (RRP £2.95), currently retailing in over 400 Co-op stores nationwide. 

Export Director for La Riojana, Walter Carol, commented “This is a real triumph for us as we have been working on this new product for a while and we are delighted that after all the hard work, we can finally see our Fairtrade olive oil on the Co-op shop shelves in the UK. Everyone who buys a bottle will be helping contribute to the Fairtrade projects that we are carrying out in support of our local communities in the Famatina Valley. Projects such as building a new water tank, a secondary school and more recently a health centre.”