The Wine and Agricultural Industry Ethical Trade Association (WIETA), has announced that 26 wines from Fairview, Robertson Winery, Distell, Durbanville Hills and Spier have all been given permission to use the seal on specific bottles of wine.

Awarding the ethical seal to individual wines, rather than the winery, enables producers to source grapes from different vineyards and still use the seal. As Wines of South Africa (Wosa) CEO, Su Birch, said: “As compliance has to be fully traceable across the entire production chain, every wine submitted has to be individually audited.”

Producers that have been awarded the seal will be able to use it for one year. In a legally binding agreement with WIETA, the producer will then be required to renew the agreement annually for the subsequent vintages.

The ethical seal testifies that producers have adhered to the WIETA code which is based on the International Labour Conventions’ Ethical Trading Initiative and South African labour legislation. 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.  

WIETA CEO, Linda Lipparoni said: “Brand owners have to identify all their suppliers. At least 60% of these suppliers had to be WIETA accredited, with the other 40% able to demonstrate that they were preparing themselves for accreditation within a year”

This ethical seal is modeled on South Africa’s Sustainability seal which has been developed to promote awareness of production integrity throughout the entire supply chain. It is seen as a parallel effort to the Fair Trade and Fair for Life accreditations, highlighting the priority South African producers give to implementing fair working conditions throughout the industry.

WIETA will be on stand B13 at Cape Wine which takes place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre between September 25– 27.

 The following wines have been approved to carry the ethical seal