Accolade’s Fish Hoek goes Fairtrade

South Africa’s Fish Hoek is to go Fairtrade from the 2015 vintage, becoming Accolade Wines’ first fully certified Fairtrade brand.

From 2015 onwards, Fish Hoek’s entire range will be sourced from South African Fairtrade suppliers following a year’s worth of preparation, which it said saw the development of a broader Fairtrade supply base within the South African wine industry.

Fairtrade certified wines ensure that both grape growers and their workers receive a fair price for their produce, as well as a premium (currently less than 5p a bottle) so their community can invest in services such as education, sanitation and health care.

Amy White, marketing director for Accolade Wines, said: “With the expansion of Fairtrade in recent years we are confident that we have secured a long-term, quality supply source and we have been and will continue to work with local growers to ensure consistency and quality for years to come.”

South Africa is by far the biggest producer accounting for two thirds of Fairtrade wine sold worldwide. The UK consumed 10.8 million litres of Fairtrade wines in 2014, up by 9% on 2013 [Fairtrade Foundation], making it the category’s largest market.

Fish Hoek is the latest brand to convert to Fairtrade, following Arniston Bay and Namaqua who both recently launched Fairtrade wines in collaboration with UK retailer The Co-Operative.

Anna Pieredes, wine manager at the Fairtrade Foundation, said: “Fairtrade wine goes from strength to strength, both in the UK and globally. To have a major business such as Accolade Wine on board is a great boost of confidence for the entire Fairtrade movement, and we hope the switch will inspire other brands to follow suit.”