Fairtrade wine and chocolate were on the menu this week as the Deputy Mayor and Mayoress of Chelmsford joined local co-op members at a sold-out tasting event in Chelmsford’s Quadrant Department Store.
Neil Bull from the Essex Wine SchoolOwner and Chief Tutor at the Essex Wine School, Neil Bull, talked the crowd through six Co-op Fairtrade wines, pairing each with Co-op Fairtrade chocolate bars and finding delicious taste combinations. His recommendations were:
1. The Moscato Rose teams up with Co-op White Chocolate
2. The Co-op Fairtrade Chardonnay pairs with the Co-op Irresistible Fairtrade Blonde Chocolate
3. Co-op Fairtrade Colombard pairs with the Co-op Irresistible Fairtrade Dark Chocolate with Orange
4. Fairtrade Shiraz Rose pairs with the Dark Chocolate and Raspberries Irresistible Bar
5.Co-op Fairtrade Merlot pairs with the member-created Millionaire’s Bar
6. The Co-op Fairtrade Shiraz goes well with the 85% Cocoa Dark Chocolate
All items are available from your local co-op, and many are currently on offer to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight. See our current offers here.
The event was held to mark Fairtrade Fortnight, encouraging shoppers to make the small switch to Fairtrade to support producers overseas. Gill Parker, of the Chelmsford City Fairtrade Campaign Group, spoke to the room about how some of our best-loved food and drink is currently at risk due to climate change. Combined with deeply unfair trade, many producers are being pushed to the brink. Staples like coffee, bananas and chocolate could soon be much more difficult to buy.
But here’s the good news… More people choosing Fairtrade means a fair wage for a fair day’s work, and additional support for those communities.
A raffle was held on the evening to win a fairtrade hamper and over £100 was raised for our Community Fund. (More can be found out about the fund here) The winner was Doreen Smith.
Doreen being presented with her prize by the deputy mayor and our Events Co-ordinator, Julie
Deputy Mayor, Bob Massey, commented.
“It was awful to hear how dire things are for the communities that produce some of our favourite foods. However, the delicious wine and chocolate we’ve sampled tonight begs the question ‘why would anyone NOT want to buy Fairtrade?’ Neil’s tasting advice has been excellent, and the Deputy Mayoress has already put her name down for the next event!”
A cheese and wine-tasting event is planned for the Autumn. To find out about this and any other future events please click here
The photo shows: Back Row (L-R) Julie (Events Co-ordinator), Kevin Bennett (Head of Membership & Marketing), Gill Parker (Chelmsford City Fairtrade Campaign) Front Row: Neil Bull, Mayoress, Deputy Mayor and Judy Saunders (Society President)