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.

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