Last week the identities of the first tranche of wines carrying South Africa's new, fully traceable, ethical seal were revealed. The seal is awarded to individual wines rather than wineries so that producers are free to continue the South African tradition of buying grapes from a variety of sources. The first 26 wines to be awarded the seal are listed below and are made variously by such significant exporters as Distell, Durbanville Hills, Fairview, Robertson Winery and Spier, suggesting that the seals have been applied to meet criteria required by customers in foreign markets. The Scandinavian monopolies are known to be particularly concerned about the issue of working conditions in South Africa's winelands.
The scheme is being monitored by the not-for-profit Wine and Agricultural Industry Ethical Trade Association (WIETA). To be awarded the new seal, the wines' producers must have followed the WIETA code based on the International Labour Conventions' Ethical Trading Initiative and South African labour legislation. According to Wines of South Africa, this code 'prohibits the use of child labour, and ensures that employment is freely chosen with all employees working within a healthy and safe environment. The code also states that workers should have the right to freedom of association, a living wage and to be protected from unfair discrimination. Worker housing and tenure security rights should also be respected.'
Every wine has to individually audited with at least 60% of the wine coming from a WIETA-accredited supplier and the other 40% from a supplier who can prove they are seeking WIETA accreditation within a year. The seals may be used for one year after which the producer will have to renew the agreement annually for subsequent vintages. WIETA is involved in a producer training programme designed to help the major brands achieve accreditation for the 2013 vintage. The thoroughly noble aim is to have all South African producers accredited with the new seal by 2015.
Head of Wines of South Africa Su Birch, a prime mover behind this initiative, commented about the first producers of wines with an ethical seal, 'they are the trailblazers who are setting an important precedent for the industry in its efforts to fast-track the implementation of fair labour practices on wine farms and in cellars'. The scheme is designed to work in parallel with Fair Trade and Fair for Life accreditations.
The ethically sealed wines will be shown at Cape Wine 2012 in Cape Town later this month, from which our very own Richard Hemming will be reporting.
The following wines have been approved to carry the ethical seal.
Distell:
Place in the Sun
Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
Shiraz 2011
Tukulu
Tukulu Syrah unwooded 2009
Tukulu Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
Tukulu Pinotage 2010
Tukulu Chenin Blanc 2012
Durbanville Hills:
Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Rhinofields Pinotage 2011
Fairview:
Fairview
Fairview Chenin Blanc 2012
Fairview Durif 2010
Fairview Nurok 2011
Fairview Shiraz 2010
La Capra
La Capra Chenin Blanc 2012
La Capra Malbec 2011
Spice Route
Spice Route Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Spice Route Chenin Blanc 2012
Spice Route Mourvedre 2009
Leeuwenjacht
Leeuwenblanc 2012
Robertson Winery:
Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
Chardonnay 2012
Chenin Blanc 2012
Merlot 2012
Pinotage 2011
Shiraz 2011
Spier:
Frieda's Wine Shiraz Mourvedre 2010
Frieda's Vine Chenin Blanc 2012