Fairtrade facts for Fairtrade Fortnight
Enjoy our own-brand Fairtrade Argentine wine and help fund a Fairtrade school
The Co-operative customers can raise a glass to Fairtrade following the official opening of the first ever Fairtrade-funded secondary school.
This school was a dream made possible by lots of people and shows what we can do when we all work together.
Since 2006 we have been working with a local community at La Riojana wine co-operative in the isolated village of Tilimuqui, located in a remote area of the La Rioja province, north-west Argentina, and so far we have raised over £500,000 for the project.
As part of the Fairtrade accreditation, the growers receive a social premium from the Fairtrade Labelling Organisation (FLO), which we match. In May this year our wines experts Vicky Wood and Brad Hall visited La Riojana co-operative – Argentina’s first Fairtrade certified winery – and handed over the latest cheque for £280,000.
This contribution, along with the latest instalments of the social premium, have largely funded the secondary school, which specialises in agricultural 
studies and is named after Julio Cesar Martinez, the first president of the wine co-operative.
We currently stock five own-brand Fairtrade Argentine wines from the vineyard co-operative: Argentine Organic Malbec Reserve, Argentine Pinot Grigio, Argentine Shiraz, Argentine Torrontes-Chardonnay and Argentine Bonarda-Shiraz.
The official opening marks the completion of the first two phases of the project, providing six classrooms, a library, staff room, school office, medical room, bathrooms and a dining room. March 2010 saw the first intake which included 33 pupils, and once the project is finished the school’s capacity is expected to reach 300 pupils. Up until now children have only been offered schooling up to the age of 14 in this area. The education is being funded by the nearby National University of Chilecito, which is providing qualified teaching staff and school equipment including furniture, books and computers.
The opening was attended by representatives from The Co-operative and attracted a large crowd of over 1,500 people, including La Riojana co-operative members, proud workers and their families, the governor of La Rioja province, a number of other local dignitaries, and many people from Tilimuqui, Chilecito and local media.
Mario Gonzalez, president for La Riojana co-operative, explained: “This school was a dream made possible by lots of people and shows what we can do when we all work together.”
This school opening comes just two years after the successful inauguration of the Tilimuqui water project – our first joint Fairtrade project with La Riojana – which provided the village of Tilimuqui with a much-needed water facility.
Vicky Wood, Category Marketing Manager for Wine at The Co-operative, said: “We are extremely proud to be involved in this life-changing project which is offering opportunities to the children of Tilimuqui through the new school, and our initial water project. Our customers have always been strong supporters of Fairtrade and we are so delighted to be able to communicate to them the significant changes they have made in developing countries by purchasing Fairtrade wine from The Co-operative.”
Harriet Lamb, Executive Director of the Fairtrade Foundation, commented: “I raise my glass to La Riojana and The Co-operative whose partnership with the wine producers is opening new doors to teenagers in Argentina and helping them build a better future. The Co-operative, which has always been a staunch supporter of Fairtrade, has gone beyond the minimum to show real commitment – in this case, matching the Fairtrade premium and so doubling the producers’ earnings. Clearly an achievement that Fairtrade supporters, and Co-operative customers alike, will enjoy celebrating with a glass of Fairtrade wine!”
So next time you’re in a local store, why not treat yourself to a bottle or two and enjoy the wine – knowing that you’re also helping change lives in Argentina.
Hints and tips for matching food with wine
More about our Fairtrade wine and other products