4 Fairtrade reds to try

We’re now a week into Fairtrade Fortnight and if you haven’t yet bought a bottle of Fairtrade wine, now’s your chance.

As I pointed out in my Guardian column last weekend the quality of Fairtrade wine - which comes mainly from South Africa - has improved significantly but prices are still very reasonable.

Here are two that arrived after I wrote my piece - both from the Co-op which is the largest retailer of Fairtrade wines in the UK

The Scarlet Pimpernel Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon-Malbec 2020 13% £7 Co-op

My best buy of the four - a really exuberant read and terrific value. A good all-rounder with food though I’m thinking particularly pizza

The Red Baron Shiraz Malbec 2020 13.5% £7 Co-op

Similarly bright, juicy and gulpable. They claim on the back label you can cellar until 2023 - I wouldn’t though!

Argentina is the other significant source of Fairtrade reds and on a recent tasting I liked

El Estego Don David Blend of Terroirs Malbec Malbec 2019 £9 Co-op

This benefited from double decanting (pouring it out of the bottle then back into the bottle again to aerate it) but it has some really nice dark plummy fruit. Classic malbec

Tilimuqui Organic Malbec 2020 13% £11.99 Waitrose

Annoyingly this has reverted to full price after being on promotion at £7.99 but it’s a well made, richly flavoured red and organic to boot.

What food to pair with malbec

Oh, and if you’re in the Co-op, a white I didn’t have room to squeeze into the Guardian piece is Bruce Jack’s bright zesty Fairtrade Sauvignon Blanc, also at £7 which you should enjoy if you’re a New Zealand sauvignon blanc fan.

Bosman Adama Fairtrade Red 2017

The South African wine industry has had a torrid 2020 so far with a ban on exports back in April and now a ban for the second time on domestic sales, citing the pressure that hospitals are under dealing with the high levels of alcohol abuse on top of the COVID crisis.

But the economy is heavily dependent on the industry so you’ll be doing them a favour if you buy South African wine.

This is a big generous red from Bosman Family Vineyards who have been at the forefront of the Fairtrade movement and employ women of colour in both their winemaking and viticultural teams as I mentioned in my recent Guardian article

It’s made from an eight grape blend of Shiraz, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Grenache Noir, Primitivo, Viognier, Nero d'Avola and Tempranillo and is aged in both new American oak and older French oak barrels which makes for a full-bodied red which would be ideal for a good steak, a barbecue or a cheese board.

I generally like the accompanying white too but the vintage available in the UK also dates from 2017 which means it’s lost a little of its freshness. I’d stick to the red.

You can buy it for £10 from the Co-op though I suspect it won’t be available in every branch and for £12.95 online from Master of Malt

Wine of the week: Bohoek Semillon 2017

One of the grape varieties that has impressed me most over the last few days in South Africa has been semillon and here’s a chance to try it at a really good price.

It’s the 2017 Bohoek Semillon which has been made for Marks & Spencer by Boekenhoutskloof and is on offer in store only at £8 (down from £12) as part of their Spring Wine Festival until the end of March

It’s a lush white with a lick of oak made in the style of white Bordeaux - i.e. smooth with a touch of fresh pineapple and other tropical fruit. It’s very drinkable now (with salmon, chicken satay or Asian-style salads I suggest) but will drink well for another couple of years at least. Not as good as the the winery's own superb semillon in which I may also indulge in at some point but then that’s over three times as much (£26.99 at James Nicholson)

While you’re in M & S you might also fancy the Caruso e Minini Perricone - a bright juicy Sicilian red which is selling for £6 instead of £9 and the 2017 Underwood Oregon pinot noir (down to £9.33) though the latter could do with another few months in the bottle, I reckon.

I’d serve both lightly chilled with seared tuna or, in the case of the perricone with a pizza.

Earth’s Essence Shiraz 2016

If you’re someone who is sensitive to sulphur but not convinced by natural wines Earth’s Essence shiraz is for you.

It’s aged by a revolutionary process which has been developed by giant South African wine producer KWV using wood extracts from the native rooibos and honeybush plants. They possess naturally high levels of antioxidants, which preserve the wines from oxidation and spoilage and does away with the need for sulphur.

According to KWV "When the Rooibos and Honeybush plants become too old for further tea production (after five years), the leaves and stems are removed so that only the wooden stem remains. These are dried in the sun, finely milled and roasted, and placed into infusion bags which are inserted into the wine."

The grapes are sourced from Swartland, one of the best wine regions for shiraz.

The net result is an extraordinarily natural-tasting vibrantly fruity red wine which is selling for a highly affordable £6.99 at Aldi (though not currently online). It would be brilliant for summer barbecues, steaks and burgers.