Wines of the week: Soluna Premium Organic Malbec, 2006; Lautaro Merlot Reserve, 2007; The Co-operative Fairtrade Cape Sparkling Rose NV

Terry Kirby selects the best bottles to buy

Saturday 26 February 2011 20:00 EST
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Sunday Lunch

Soluna Premium Organic Malbec, 2006

Mark Fairtrade Fortnight, which starts tomorrow, with this stunning Malbec, produced by a boutique winery that buys grapes at a fair price from small, family-owned vineyards in the Mendoza region of Argentina. This is my favourite Fairtrade bottle: a rich, smooth mouthful with dark fruity flavours that transform into a tarry, smoky finish. Fantastic with rare fillet of beef or grilled duck. £10.44, waitrosewine.com, everywine.co.uk, hawksheadwines.co.uk

Weekday supper

Lautaro Merlot Reserve, 2007

What is good about Fairtrade wines is that despite the decent prices paid to growers, bottles are still moderately priced for consumers. This Chilean wine is the pick of a carefully chosen selection from this specialist retailer of ethically sourced products: full-bodied, fruity, with those distinctive Merlot woody and chocolate flavours. Perfect with meat-based pasta dishes. £8.95 (minimum order six bottles), traidcraftshop.co.uk

Bargain Basement

The Co-operative Fairtrade Cape Sparkling Rose NV

The first Fairtrade sparkling wine, this is part of the largest Fairtrade range on the high street, which can be found in Co-operative supermarkets, and is currently very favourably discounted. Made from a blend of Shiraz and Cinsault grapes by the Du Toitskloof co-operative in the Western Cape of South Africa, it is an easily gluggable pink sparkler: dry, but with summer-fruit flavours. Almost the perfect budget aperitif. £6.49 to 15 March (normally £8.49), Co-ops nationwide

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