Today is International Rosé Wine Day, an excuse to fill your glass and enjoy the treat that is pink wine. It’s also a chance to celebrate the farmers and producers who create the delicious wine we pop into our Fairtrade cotton shopping totes.
A little about rosé…
Rosé production began in Provence, France, over 2,500 years ago when the Phocaeans brought grape vines to Massalia (modern day Marseille). Now produced all over the World, including in Argentina and South Africa, rosé is best enjoyed young, while still fresh and fruity, and is the perfect accompaniment for a BBQ!
Something of an unsung wine in the past, retailers are seeing an accelerated demand for rosé, with people who perhaps didn’t drink it before, now choosing rosé over other wines. Tastes have also changed considerably, with consumers choosing dry, pale wine over the previously favoured dark and sweet.
Why Fairtrade rosé?
Wine grape farming and wine-making are time-consuming industries, strenuous and labour-intensive. The demanding processes involved in the production of wine often lead to poor labour standards and living conditions for both small wine grape farmers and hired labourers on large plantations.
Wine producers across South Africa and South America face unique economic, social and political challenges. From the legacy of apartheid in South Africa and low market prices in South America, farmers are exposed to an unpredictable future. Fairtrade Standards improve and protect the employment conditions and rights of the 5,000 farmers and workers who produce Fairtrade wine around the world. Buying Fairtrade wine helps ensure that farmers and workers receive a fair price by gaining more control within supply chains – as well as an additional Premium to help their community invest in essential services such as education, sanitation, child labour prevention, and health care.
Furthermore, the beauty of Fairtrade wine is that it caters to all tastes and budgets. In fact, many of our rosés come in at under £10. But just because the price is attractive, doesn’t mean you’re compromising on quality. You’ll often see our wine partners feature in national news outlet round ups listing the very best affordable wines on the market.
Rosé can be enjoyed every day of the year but no more so than right now: the height of summer. So when you peruse the shop shelves, make sure the wine you choose is Fairtrade. By choosing Fairtrade wine you are supporting projects that benefit producers and their loved ones, while raising a glass with yours. Cheers!
Some of our favourite Fairtrade rosés
- Co-op Fairtrade Rose
- Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Fairtrade Rosé Moscato. Sainsbury’s also do a Taste the Difference Fairtrade Moscato Sparkling Rosé that comes in a small bottle – perfect for gifting!
- Stormhoek Fairtrade Moscato Rose.
- HUN Rosé, the first tinned vegan Fairtrade wine
- Arniston Bay The Coast Rosé Fairtrade
- Lidl Fairtrade Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé
- Fish Hoek Cinsault Rose
- Dolphin Bay Fairtrade Rosé
- Kleine Rust Pinotage Rosé