Fairtrade wines from ethicalwine.com

Nearly 300,000 cases of Fairtrade wines were sold in the UK in 2006 and sales are growing fast. Last November a wine tasting of all Fairtrade wines was held in London and there are some very good examples.

The Fairtrade mark ensures that workers are paid a fair wage, have decent working conditions and they also receive an extra premium which is invested into social development projects.

Susan McCraith, Master of Wine and founder of Ethical Fine Wines comments, "I have seen first-hand two Fairtrade wine projects in South Africa and the significant benefits it has brought to the community."

Thandi was South Africa's first Fairtrade accredited wine. The best wine in the range currently is the Chardonnay, available at £6.25 a bottle. Very easy-drinking, everyday wine. To read more about the project, go to the Thandi website

From Argentina comes Soluna Premium Malbec at £8.95, a rich, meaty wine with plum and blackberry flavours. Read about Soluna's support of the 'contratistas'

For those with a sweet tooth, then try 'Heaven on Earth' a half bottle of dessert wine made from Muscat grapes dried over rooibos tea by Stellar Organics north of Cape Town (£7.50). This won a silver medal at the International Wine Challenge last year and was awarded Best in Class and also makes a lovely gift. Read more about the Stellar Fairtrade Workers' Trust

Ethical Fine Wines can also send out a Fairtrade gift of a bottle of Thandi Chardonnay with a pack of Mexican ground coffee and single-estate Earl Grey tea (both F/T), packaged in a jute bag and delivered within the UK for £29.95.

For more information and to buy online, visit Ethicalwine.com.