Sponsored by Pick n Pay, the two Fairtrade trophies were introduced to this year's line-up of the MIWA for the first time. 

Boudewijn Goossens, Executive Director of Fairtrade Label South Africa (FLSA) comments, "We expect to continue our partnership with the MIWA organisers in the future and continue rewarding Fairtrade wineries for their amazing work in making excellent wines that adhere to the highest social and environmental standards."

The MIWA started in 1997 as an annual South African wine competition with an international panel of judges. The 15 judges appointed for this year's competition tasted 1385 wines supplied by 226 producers and selected 35 wines for the Grand D'Or medal, 179 for the gold and 261 for silver. In addition to the medals, twelve trophies were awarded, two of which are dedicated to Fairtrade wines.

"The Pick n Pay trophies for the best Fairtrade Red and Fairtrade White have been created to encourage participation of Fairtrade-endorsed wines and by implication to encourage producers to become part of the Fairtrade initiative" says Lorraine Immelman, President of MIWA. 

Wine is one of the biggest Fairtrade products category in South Africa with almost forty businesses involved in Fairtrade winemaking and certified accordingly. Currently, over 15 sell their Fairtrade labelled wines in the local market. In 2010, Fairtrade wines accounted for over half of the estimated sales of Fairtrade in South Africa, which soared to R18,4 million from R5,7 million in 2009. 

For more information and editor's note, see the Fairtrade Label SA website. 

For more info on Stellenrust Wines, visit their website
For more info on Bosman Wines, see their website
For more info on Palesa Wines, see their website