Fairhills - Fair Trade Certified™ Wine

Embraced by the winds, Kissed by the sea, Guided by the stars

Fairhills is the world’s most well-known Fairtrade brand being sourced from three Fairtrade wine countries of origin, Argentina, Chile, and South Africa.  The Fairhills initiative benefits over 1300 beneficiaries in the three different countries and focuses on improving the living and social conditions of these producers.  The brand was established in 2005 by the South African wine company Origin Wines, S.A. in th e Western Cape as a “social enhancement” project to right past wrongs. 

Origin Wine, in conjunction with the local farmers of Du Toitskloof in the Breede River Valley Region and Du Toitskloof Winery, set up the Fairhills Association, a Fair Trade initiative dedicated to improving the quality of life for the vineyard workers, their families, and their community.  From the beginning of the project, it was emphasized that the community had the right to embrace or decline the initiative and all decisions would include the community. 

With the assistance of Fairtrade (an international organization set on improving conditions for disadvantaged producers and workers, especially in the global south), the initiative established that the farmers would receive a fair wage for their grapes and a premium dedicated to unlocking the communities’ potentials.  The premiums are devoted to creating a positive and healthy living and learning environment for the community, developing the potential of the children at the earliest possible age, and empowering adults via education and skills training which accordingly provides the means for them to shape their own future. 

The Fairhills initiative is managed by a joint committee composed of 80% farm workers, 10% representatives from Origin, and 10% of the farm owners. The committee oversees all projects addressing the communities’ needs.  Some of the community needs include adult literacy, healthcare facilities, pre-schools and activities, transportation to healthcare facilities and schools, HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns, alcohol abuse and domestic violence treatment & prevention, recreational activities and facilities, and help with financial management.  All employees working on the farms have ownership in the project and make decisions based on information provided by the joint committee. 

The success of the South African Fairhills initiative led Origin Wine to establish an initiative in the Mendoza region of Argentina and in the Curicό Valley of Chile. Fairhills Argentina, with 2007 being the first vintage released, is a joint venture between Mendoza Vineyards (an affiliate of Origin Wine), Bodegas y Viñedos de Marañon and 3 small producers along with their farm worker community.  The Fairhills Argentina is one of the first Fairtrade certified initiatives in Argentina and benefits over 200 employees and 300 children from ten Fairtrade certified farms.  Fairhills Chile became established in 2008 with Viña Santa Irene and 4 small producers along with their farming communities and will benefit 210 individuals. 

The Fairhills initiative has created a very successful and financially sustainable brand that benefits the environment and the communities in the underdeveloped regions of South Africa, Argentina and Chile.  “To my knowledge, the Fairhills project is one of the largest and most successful Fairtrade projects in the world.  In my experience it certainly ranks as one of the largest and highest impact Fairtrade projects in Africa and Argentina and definitely the largest in wine.  The project is a model example of what Fairtrade can achieve,” according to Flo-Cert.  Flo-Cert is a non-profit 23 member organization that develops and reviews Fairtrade standards. Through Fair Trade, the global Fairhills brand is able to showcase the excellent wines of these underdeveloped communities and assist each grower to develop their business skills.  With every glass of Fairhills you can directly help the grower, their community an the environment.  Look for the Fair Trade Certified™ label on every bottle of Fairhills to know that every glass matters!

Fairhills Community Projects

South Africa Community Projects
The Fairhills initiative of South Africa became accredited in 2005 with twenty-two farms and fourteen members, this was the first initiative whereby all the grape producers to a single cooperative were Fairtrade certified.  The Association benefits close to 1000 individuals.

Since that time, the initiative has formed their joint committee, had several community sports days, opened a bank, and opened three daycare facilities employing 27 individuals who previously worked in the vineyards and provide the 210 children with two meals per day. The community has also built a sports club, built a community center boasting a library and computer training, as well as providing adult training and education.   

In 2008, various curricular activities were established such as youth clubs, a women’s club, and a youth club band.  A craft store was opened and is owned by twenty members featuring various hand crafted products made from recycled materials.  The largest adult literacy initiative was undertaken as well.  The initiative offered basic reading and writing skills to completing higher career education for close to 200 individuals. 

Future goals for the community members are to establish a co-operative wine farm for the members of the project, on land to be purchased by the project that the members will own and manage.  This co-operative wine farm has to be a self-sustaining investment.  Some of the members are looking into opening restaurants for tourists following the wine route, whereby increased financial funding will be provided to these individuals to start the restaurants.  The community is also planning on offering a more cost efficient and improved health care facility and options to the beneficiaries.

Argentina Community Projects
The Fairhills initiative of Argentina became accredited in 2006 with ten farms, to provide the employees of Lavalle, San Martin and Medrano areas with the opportunity to develop and improve the social and living conditions. The initiative benefits 210 individuals. In 2007, Fairtrade Premiums were used to upgrade various schools in the region, which included painting, purchasing new toys, and providing ongoing support to the schools.  In addition, 300 pairs of shoes were purchased for the families and different welfare societies.

In 2008, the community was able to carry on with supporting local schools, set up a soup kitchen facility, and developed a central park in San Martin.  The community of Medrano was able to establish a daycare facility for toddlers and infants.  The communities were able to save enough from 2007 and 2008 to purchase an ambulance for the local health care center.

Future plans for the communities, includes building a sports club, improving health care clinics and schools, and providing financial assistance to gifted children to complete higher education.  Over the following two years the three smaller producers will convert their production from conventional to organic productions, as well as establish holistic action plans for dealing with and improving the farms’ environmental impact and greenhouse gas emissions. 

Chile Community Projects
Fairhills Chile became accredited in 2008 with all of the farms being situated in the Curico Valley and benefits 127 individuals.  The 2008 sales have been dedicated to supporting local schools and improving the heating systems and drinking water supplied to the community members.  Over the next two years, all member vineyards will be converted from conventional farming to organic production, as well as establish holistic action plans for dealing with and improving the farms’ environmental impact and greenhouse gas emissions.