After years of developing a suitable brand and packaging of communicate the history of his vineyards to consumer abroad, Luis Chiaramonte with the help of his Fairtrade partner and exporter Mendoza Vineyards SA has brought together history with quality. The Chiaramonte family has been producing grapes on the farm Miguelisa for the past 107 years, with the original owner, the grandfather, vinifying on the farm and selling to the local community at farm gate. It was originally just a way of life and a little household income. The wine produce from the 1907 Malbec vineyards from Miguelisa has not received it well deserved recognition from consumers abroad. Back in 1901 the farm was originally owned by a German immigrant(name unknown), who was more »
Read moreFairhills Argentina invests in Tucumán community
The benefits from the Fairtrade Premiums do not only extend to the permanent workers, but also to the seasonal workers employed from time to time on the farms of accredited producers. For the last five years the producers Luis and Miguel Chiaramonte and Nidi Davolio have been making use of the large workforce coming from the Tucumán province to Mendoza for the harvest season. The workers are all members of the Joint Bodies of Fideicomiso Varilla Blanca and Finca Davolio. They come from a small town called Santa Rosa de Leales, 40 kilometers from San Miguel, the capital of Tucumán. The group is very committed to the Fairhills project and recognises the benefits Fairtrade brings to their community. Currently, they more »
Read moreFairhills Argentina– Harvest Round-up 2011
ALL PHOTO’S BY: Melani Smit After experiencing various natural challenges during the harvest of 2010, the early indications were that 2011 might be another tough harvest season. However, as we near the end of the season in Mendoza, Argentina, the Fairhills producers are emboldened by their experience of the harvest thus far. Indications are that this year’s harvest will provide a step up in quality and an increase in volume, based on the harvest figures and quality classifications. This is particularly good news in the light of the successes achieved by the 1907 Fairhills brand (part of the Vineyard Selection Fairhills Premium Fairtrade range spanning the three countries, Chile, Argentina and South Africa) during 2010 and 2011 with retailers throughout more »
Read moreFairhills Argentina – Bicycle Project
Keeping with the spirit and objectives of Fairhills, one of the most recent projects undertaken by Fairhills Argentina and the beneficiaries of the Tres Porteñas farm of Bodegas y Viñedos Amadeo Marañon farm, was to provide the employees with the necessary form of transport to get to-and-from work. As not all employees can afford a motor vehicle and associated maintenance costs or have drivers licences, their transport need was addressed by providing them with bicycles. Even though Fairtrade regulations have rules regarding the provision of tangible benefits that could have a re-sale value, it does allow the beneficiaries to acquire interest free loans against the Fairtrade Premiums. Installments of loan repayments and the timeframe over which repayments are made, are more »
Read moreVisiting different projects is one of the most committed ways for beneficiaries to understand what is taking place within other parts of the World of Fairhills and its beneficiaries and to share ideas and experiences about their own projects within their community. For this reason, 5 workers who work within the Joint Body Committees of one of the Chilean Fairhills producers, Don Mario Nuñez, decided to travel to Mendoza to gain experience and knowledge regarding projects undertaken by their neighbour Fairhills Argentina. Some of the representatives were experiencing their first plane trip and their first visit to Argentina, all the more reason why they enjoyed the trip so much. Isabel de la Cuadra, Luis Díaz, Ana Naranjo, Claudio more »
Read moreThe longterm dream of the citizens of El Martillo was realized when the Los Cowboys Health Centre N° 229 was completed at the end of 2010. The project was a joint venture between Fairhills Trust Argentina, the Joint Body Committee of La Legua and the Municipality of Junín, Province of Mendoza. The project has such importance for this small rural town that the Wine and Spirits Guild of America (WSG), buyer of Los Cowboys trademark, decided to support the project by returning the initial investment made by Fairhills Argentina Trust. The Wines and Spirits Guild of America got involved at the planning stages already and decided to see it through until the day of the official opening. For this reason more »
Read moreDuring the visit of the Wine and Spirits Guild of America to Medrano, in particular to the local primary school, Isaac Melhor Chavarria, the group was so moved by the number of pupils attending the school and their needs that they decided to make a donation towards renovating the school’s kitchen. During the visit to the school Ken Lewis, president of Wine and Spirits Guild of America, took the opportunity to present the headmistress of Isaac Melchor Chavarria Primary School with a cheque to the amount of USD$4000.00. The kitchen provides in one of the crucial needs of the community and the pupils that attend the school. Due to the background of the pupils and the financial status more »
Read moreMendoza Fairtrade projects clip
Short clip about what we’ve been doing in Argentina recently. Mendoza Fairtrade Projects from Fairhills.co.za on Vimeo. Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post Recommend on Facebook Tip on Hyves Share on Linkedin Share via MySpace share via Reddit Share with Stumblers Tumblr it Tweet about it Share on vkontakte Subscribe to the comments on this post Tell a friend
Read moreSpecial Report: My day in Mendoza
I first learned about Fairhills through the project my husband and I started called Why Sport Matters [www.whysportmatters.com]. We are spending one year traveling the world to learn more about different places through the power of sport. A friend turned us on to the Fairhills initiative: using sport as a way to promote healthy living for the workers in communities prone to high alcohol rates. During our travels through Argentina we got to spend a day visiting the vineyards in Mendoza. Our first stop was the headquarters of Mendoza Vineyards where we watched a presentation on the success of the sports program thus far. Afterwards we took the 45 minute drive to visit some of their partner vineyards and meet more »
Read moreEmpowering Women – Argentina
Nidi Noelia Davolio is a small producer from Medrano in the Mendoza wine growing region of Argentina. Out of the four hectares on her farm, three is used to cultivate high quality Chardonnay. In an environment where having a woman at the helm of a business is still frowned upon, Nidi courageously said “yes” to the challenge to take ownership of the farm left by her father, ten years ago. Together with the ongoing support of Fairhills Argentina, she obtained Fairtrade certification in 2008 and has uphold this status ever since. Talking about what Fairhills has meant to her, was very emotional. “I am very grateful to be part of the Fairhills project, otherwise I would not have been in more »
Read moreFemale producers in Argetina tells all
Nidi Noelia Davolio is a small producer from Medrano in the Mendoza wine growing region of Argentina. The total size of the farm is 4 hectares of which 3 hectares are cultivated with high quality Fairtrade Chardonnay. Nidi, left behind social prejudices regarding women’s land labor, inherited this job left by her father and took ownership of the farm ten years ago. Nidi, together with ongoing support of Fairhills Argentina, has obtained Fairtrade certification for the first time in 2008 and has uphold this status ever since. Talking to her regarding what the Fairhills project has meant for her was very emotional. “I am very grateful for being part of the Fairhills project; otherwise I would not have been in more »
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