LA RIOJANA CELEBRATES PRESTIGIOUS ETHICAL SUPPLIER AWARD

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We are thrilled to announce that La Riojana co-operative, Argentina’s leading producer of Fairtrade, Organic and Biodynamic wines and a long-standing Fairtrade wine producer for the Co-op, has won Co-op’s Treating People Fairly Award, a coveted accolade, judged by an expert panel, which celebrates Co-op suppliers who demonstrate a significant commitment to ethical trade and make a positive impact for workers through their actions. 

As part of the awards entry, applicants were asked to showcase a project or programme that has supported Co-op to treat everyone fairly and give a fair deal to workers. We chose to highlight the Tilimuqui school project, one of our most successful Fairtrade projects to date which has not only addressed a basic need in one of our local communities, also home to many of our co-operative workers and their families, by providing children the equal right of a secondary education and the chance of a brighter future but has also had a profound socio-economic impact on the whole community. A project that would not have been made possible without our close partnership with the Co-op. 

La Riojana was one of six Co-op suppliers shortlisted for the award and it therefore was a great honour for Walter Carol, La Riojana’s export director, to be invited to attend the awards held at Co-op’s Manchester headquarters on 7th May 2024 and to have the opportunity to present the Tilimuqui school project in person, a project that has meant so much to so many people. 

After receiving news of the winning award, Walter commented “We were truly thrilled to receive this award, as it is fantastic recognition of the work we do to support our workers, as well as our local communities, by investing the Fairtrade Premium in long-term, life changing projects such as the Tilimuqui school project.”

In presenting the award, Co-op described La Riojana’s submission as “a strong example of the power of responsible business that creates an intrinsic link between the sustainability of the local community, economy and its business. Colegio Nacional Agrotecnico makes the hope of a brighter future actually tangible for the young people of Tilimuqui and the wider area, by enabling isolated populations to truly be the future agriculturalists of tomorrow, which otherwise would be a difficult goal to achieve.”

Image (from left to right):

  • Aisha Aswani, Senior Human Rights & Ethical Trade Manager, Co-op

  • Nick Day, Europe Sales Director, La Riojana co-operative

  • Walter Carol, Export Director, La Riojana co-operative

  • Cathryn Higgs, Head of Ethics, Sustainability and Policy, Co-op

  • Tom Bradley, Head of Commercial, Co-op

  • Emily Pearce, Senior International Development and Responsible Sourcing Manager, Co-op

Image credit: Co-op

LA RIOJANA LAUNCHES NEW CORPORATE IMAGE

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On 30th June 2023, La Riojana co-operative celebrated its 83rd anniversary and to help commemorate this special occasion La Riojana held a presentation at the Club Cultural in its hometown Chilecito for 450 people, including local dignitaries, co-op members, employees as well as special guests, to introduce its new corporate image.

An image which has been created to give La Riojana the feeling of a modern co-operative, yet at the same time express a sense of origin and tradition in line with the values held by La Riojana related to co-operativism, Fairtrade and sustainability.

In terms of design concept, the new branding is an abstract expression of the unification of wine and the co-operative, using simple symbols within the logo which represent La Riojana’s main crops – the Torrontes Riojano grape and the olive – as well as man (i.e., the co-operative) and its DNA.

The rebranding exercise, which took a number of months, was carried out by the Argentine graphic design studio Godoy Steindl – Itoiz – Mazziotti and the final decision on which design route to take was based on feedback received from more than 100 people, including La Riojana’s employees, partners, and clients across the globe.

The new logo has been designed to unify and consolidate the co-operative image as one for both the domestic and export markets and going forwards will be used across all La Riojana’s marketing communications and materials, replacing the different logo designs which have co-existed until now for the different markets.

The launch of the new commercial logo for La Riojana was perfectly timed with the co-operative starting a new chapter as it enters its 84th year.

DOUBLE SILVER FOR CO-OP FAIRTRADE DUAL VARIETALS AT DWWA 2023

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The results from the prestigious Decanter World Wine Awards 2023 are out, and we are delighted to have been awarded top medals, including Silver medals for the two dual varietal wines we produce for the Co-op own-label Fairtrade range. 

Our highest scorer in this year’s competition is the Co-op Fairtrade Torrontés-Chardonnay 2022, a 70% Torrontés and 30% Chardonnay white wine blend, won a Silver medal and was awarded a stunning 92 points. It was described by the DWWA as having a “beautiful floral nose, expressive, showing aromas of jasmine, grapes and perfumed citrus. Intense on the palate, with a refreshing acidity.”

In addition to the Torrontés-Chardonnay, the Co-op Fairtrade Bonarda-Malbec 2022, a 70% Bonarda and 30% Malbec red blend was also awarded a Silver medal and received 90 points.  This wine was described by the DWWA as having a “very intense nose, milky and chocolatey, with rich blueberry fruit and hints of smoke. Supple tannins, smooth and harmonious.”

By winning medals such as these clearly demonstrates it is possible to make Fairtrade certified entry level wines, which currently retail under £6 per bottle, that are capable of over delivering to the consumer. 

Edward Robinson, Wine Buyer for The Co-op, commented “92 points for wines at this level is incredible and exactly what we are aspiring to achieve.”

In addition to the exciting Siiver medal victory, other wines from La Riojana’s stable also won Bronze medals at the DWWA 2023, including: Co-op Fairtrade Irresistible Malbec 2021; Co-op Fairtrade Pinot Grigio 2022; Co-op Fairtrade Merlot 2022 and Tilimuqui Fairtrade Organic Malbec 2022. 

First launched in 2004, the Decanter World Wine Awards, one of the world’s most influential wine competitions, is now in its 20th year. This year saw a record 18,250 wines entered from 57 countries, judged by a total of 236 wine experts, with Argentina receiving a total of 517 awards.