Last updated 14:18, Friday, 21 March 2008

Top Tipples with Alan Irving

FAIRTRADE – I’ve had plenty of the coffee and the chocolate but I’m sorry to say, if not a little bit ashamed, that I hadn’t tried the wine....until now.

Fairtrade is the brand name given to a wide range of products ensuring that producers particularly in Third World countries get a fair price for what they grow and at the same time help to develop social conditions in their own communities.

It’s working well and the Co-op has been one of the successful pioneers of the venture, wine contributing its fair share; other supermarkets have followed suit but it’s a case here of the Co-op raising the bar.

As part of the current Fairtrade Fortnight, the Co-op has slashed 20 per cent off all its products bearing the international brand, including a range of wines to suit most tastes, reds and whites from three major wine countries (Argentina, Chile, South Africa) and the popular grape varieties including shiraz, chardonnay, merlot, rose and sauvignon blanc.

But my choice, for two very good reasons, was an organic malbec – Argentina offers some of the best wine around at quality prices and malbec is a brilliant but still obscure French grape among consumers.

Malbec has only a minor standing in Bordeaux where cabernet sauvignon and merlot reign supreme but Argentina has practically adopted it as its own with fantastic results.

The Co-op’s Fairtrade reserve malbec is also organically produced which adds an extra dimension to the taste.

The best Malbec is dark, dense and to coin one of the new wine terms definitely moreish – which I’m told means delicious, causing one to want more!

Well, it did have the moreish effect on me which is exactly what I wanted in the wake of Haven’s less than vintage RL derby performance on a wintry Sunday afternoon!

Being organic appears to add even greater depth and concentration to an already full-bodied red and I wouldn’t argue with its own description of being sophisticated and laden with succulent fruit.

In terms of quality, Fairtrade wine scores highly offering terrific value for money and choice: The reserve malbec is a modest £4.79 (more than £1 off) and there are plenty of others under £4, which may be rare for decent wine once price rises come into effect!