La Riojana Cooperative

La Riojana is the world’s largest Fairtrade wine producer and Argentina’s leading producer of Fairtrade, organic and biodynamic wines, with a strong commitment to ethical trade and human rights. Since becoming Fairtrade certified in 2006, La Riojana has played a pivotal role in the socio-economic development of its local region through strategic investments of the Fairtrade Premium.

Founded by Italian immigrants in 1940, La Riojana is located in Argentina’s Famatina Valley in La Rioja Province. Over generations, families have come together as cooperative members, jointly growing their grapes and building a thriving community.

The La Riojana cooperative consists of 500 growers, cultivating 2,200 hectares of vineyards andproducing approximately 25 million litres of wine annually. Nearly 80 percent of the members farm on small plots of less than 3 hectares. Being organised in the cooperative provides scale for the small-scale growers, secures sales at fairer prices, and includes profit distribution as well as access to financial assistance.

Partnership with Giertz Vinimport

In Sweden, Giertz Vinimport, part of the Viva Wine Group, has worked with La Riojana since 2004. Organic and Fairtrade principles have been key to the success of La Riojana’s wines in Sweden. Over the years, significant volumes have been sold, making Sweden one of La Riojana’s most important export markets.

“We first introduced the brand Ecologica in Sweden in 2004 with a white wine from La Riojana. Later that year, two more products including a red wine and a red wine three litre Bag in Box were launched. More than 20 years later, all these wines remain available at Systembolaget,” said Björn Wittmark at Giertz Vinimport.

In 2006, these three wines became Fairtrade certified. A couple of years later, a Fairtrade white wine three litre Bag in Box from La Riojana was launched in Sweden. The Ecologica range of wines from La Riojana further broadened its presence within the Swedish market with the addition of Ecologica’s sweet sparkling wine in 2018. Wines produced by La Riojana have since accounted for the majority of all Fairtrade wines sold in Sweden.

Reliable business partners

Giertz Vinimport has not only been an importer but also a partner with La Riojana in a joint venture company, which was set up as a back office for business in Europe and the UK.

The partnership has seen Giertz provide La Riojana with important financial assistance through advance payments and vintage loans, enhancing the cooperative’s economic resilience. This, in turn, has enabled La Riojana to support its members and prioritise organic viticulture.

A key focus for the partnership has also been brand sharing and brand building. Additionally, Giertz Vinimport has collaborated on Fairtrade projects in Argentina together with Co-op in the UK. This has made it possible to scale up projects and accelerate their development..

“To make this type of partnership a success you have to trust each other, invest time, be flexible and resourceful and look at it long term," said Björn Wittmark from Giertz Vinimport.

Market leaders in Sweden and the UK

For both La Riojana and Giertz, the results have been very positive. For Giertz it is very important to work with a producer who has the volumes needed for the Swedish market, and for La Riojana it is important to have an importer who can sell big volumes.

“The relationship between us has helped La Riojana become the leading Argentine producer in Sweden, the leading Argentine Fairtrade wine producer in the UK, and has led to successes in Belgium, Finland and Germany. For us at Giertz and the Viva Wine Group our partnership with La Riojana has made us the leading importer of Fairtrade certified wines in Sweden,” Wittmark added.

"We feel deeply grateful for the incredible partnership we have built together over more than 20 years, sharing the same principles and values. For La Riojana, Fairtrade has been the natural evolution of being a cooperative in the 21st century, a direct and effective way to continue supporting our growers, workers and community, just as our founding grandparents envisioned back in 1939 when they dreamed of creating our company," said Walter Carol, Export Director at La Riojana Cooperative.

Fairtrade projects

Since 2006, La Riojana has invested over $6.5 million of Fairtrade Premium in different projects, focusing on education, infrastructure and healthcare. These initiatives have supported the cooperative’s growers, workers and their families, and have improved vineyard sustainability as well as enhanced energy efficiency.

Clean drinking water
The first landmark Fairtrade project for La Riojana was the installation of a drinking water facility to provide clean water for the small, isolated community of Tilimuqui. This initiative has made aspects of daily life significantly easier for the villagers and has paved the way for further Fairtrade-funded projects.

Education for future generations
Education is a top priority for La Riojana. The cooperative has built Argentina’s first Fairtrade-funded secondary school, offering free, agricultural-based technical education for children aged 13 to 18. Since opening in 2010 with just 33 students, enrolment within the school has grown to over 500 . Hundreds of children, who might not have had access to secondary education otherwise, have had the opportunity to acquire relevant skills through this project. It also contributes to La Riojana’s long-term prosperity, as many graduates pursue further education and then return to working for the cooperative.

“The new secondary school has changed lives and the entire dynamics of the village. The village has a new life and the children have broader perspectives,” said Giselle Carril, School Governor.

Investing in health care
Beyond addressing basic needs such as water and education, La Riojana has prioritised healthcare. It has recently  established the Los Pioneros Health Centre, which is designed to provide out-patient services, including maternity and specialist care to mothers, babies and young children. This essential facility is part of a broader initiative to improve medical access for the cooperative’s growers, workers and the wider community.

A thriving community

Through the Fairtade Premium funded projects, Tilimuqui has flourished. With access to clean water, education and healthcare, the village demonstrates how fairer and more ethical trade and strong partnerships can drive lasting and positive change.

“I feel proud to be a coop member when I see the construction of a school and health centre. Although they are located in Tilimuqui, they are projects for all the villages in the area,” said Juan Rojas, La Riojana Cooperative member and grower.