LA RIOJANA LAUNCHES ITS FIRST FAIRTRADE 0% ALCOHOL WINE

La Riojana Co-op, the world’s largest Fairtrade wine producer, is proud to announce the launch of its newest product, Tilimuqui Fairtrade Sparkling Zero, a sophisticated 0% alcohol wine which has been produced to deliver all the taste, aroma and sense of occasion of wine, but without the alcohol.

Tilimqui Zero will retail at £5.00 and will be available exclusively in over 500 Co-op stores from 6th October 2025, giving shoppers nationwide a premium alcohol-free option in time for the festive season ahead. 

This light-bodied, alcohol-free sparkling drink is made from hand-picked Fairtrade wine grapes grown in La Riojana’s vineyards in the Famatina Valley, in La Rioja Province, Argentina. The grapes used for Tilimuqui Zero have been carefully de-alcoholised, using a state-of-the-art de-alcoholisation process, to preserve the maximum flavour. 

On the palate Tilimuqui Zero offers fine bubbles, zesty lime and juicy peach aromas, with a balanced sweetness and acidity. Making it the perfect aperitif and ideal for mindful drinking and special occasions. 

La Riojana’s Export Director Walter Carol commented, “We believe that choosing not to drink alcohol shouldn’t mean compromising on taste or experience. Tilimuqui Zero, in our opinion, makes no such compromise and has been created by us to be enjoyed by wine drinkers and non-wine drinkers alike.” 

Carol continues, “With the growing demand for mindful drinking and alcohol-free alternatives, Tilimuqui Zero offers great value for money and provides wine lovers with a sophisticated option that complements modern lifestyles.”

LA RIOJANA UNVEILS BRAND NEW LOOK FOR RIOJANA WINE RANGE

La Riojana co-operative has recently launched a striking new look for its popular Fairtrade Organic wine range, Riojana, designed to stand out on shelf and better reflect the quality and personality inside each bottle. 

The bold, modern new labels for both the Varietal and Reserve ranges are inspired by the valleys of La Rioja, framed by majestic mountains, with the village of Tilimuqui depicted in the foreground – a community where Fairtrade has played a vital role in local development.  

The rebrand, which uses vibrant colour palettes for the Varietal range and more muted colours for the Reserve wines, brings a fresh, visual identity to the collection while staying true to its roots. 

Alongside the rebrand, La Riojana has also introduced three new products to its Riojana Fairtrade Organic Reserve range, including a Red Blend Reserve (made from Malbec, Bonarda, Merlot, Ancellota); Chardonnay Reserve and Torrontés Reserve, as well as a new Fairtrade Sparkling wine. 

“We wanted the outside of the bottle reflect the same care and craft we put into our wines inside,” says Walter Carol, Export Director for La Riojana co-operative. “This is a contemporary update that captures the spirit of our Riojana wines.”

The rebranded range includes six wines within the Varietal collection: Malbec; Bonarda Malbec; Cabernet Sauvignon; Chardonnay; Torrontés Riojano; Rosé and five wines within the Reserve range: Red Blend; Chardonnay; Torrontés Riojano; Malbec and Pinot Noir, along with the Riojana Sparkling. The range is already available in over 300 stores and supermarkets across the USA and is set to launch in Canada in the coming months.

DOUBLE SILVER AT THE DECANTER WORLD WINES AWARDS 2025

Fairtrade co-operative La Riojana has reinforced its reputation for quality and value by once again impressing the expert panels at this year’s Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA), one of the world’s most influential and respected blind-tasting wine competitions, collecting two silver medals and six bronze medals, the results for which were announced on Wednesday 18th June 2025. 

The two silver medallists, which scored 90 points each, include Tilimuqui Fairtrade Malbec 2024 and Co-op Fairtrade Bonarda Malbec 2024, both popular wines which retail through Co-op. The judges described the Tilimuqui Fairtrade Malbec 2024 as having a “nice floral lift with notes of perfumed black and blue fruits on the nose” and as a wine of “serious character with appealing juiciness.”. Whilst they described the Co-op Fairtrade Bonarda Malbec 2024 as having a “generous and rewarding palate, nice texture, chocolatey finish.”

The wines from La Riojana’s stable that won bronze medals at this year’s DWWA include five wines produced by La Riojana exclusively for the own-label Fairtrade range for Co-op, including Co-op Fairtrade Torrontes-Chardonnay 2024 (88 points); Co-op Fairtrade Merlot 2024 (88 points); Co-op Fairtrade Pinot Grigio 2024 (87 points); Co-op Fairtrade Shiraz Rosé 2024 (87 points) and Co-op Fairtrade Cabernet Sauvignon 2024 (87 points). 

In addition, the DWWA awarded a bronze medal and 88 points to Riojana’s Tilimuqui Fairtrade Organic Malbec 2024, which retails through Waitrose, with the judges describing the wine as having “lovely bright red fruit aromas on the nose” as well as “juicy, with supporting tannins”. 

Commenting on these recent industry awards, Walter Carol, Export Director for La Riojana said “Medals such as these won at this year’s Decanter World Wine Awards not only reflect the hard work, passion and precision behind each bottle, they are also testament to the consistent quality that our winery produces year in and year out.”

MEDAL SUCCESS AT THE INTERNATIONAL WINE CHALLENGE 2025

We’re raising a glass in celebration after winning an impressive set of medals at this year’s International Wine Challenge, one of the world’s most influential and rigorously judged wine competitions. 

Announced on 20th May 2025, our wines, all of which are Fairtrade certified, took home a total of nine awards, including three Silver Medals, three Bronze Medals and a further three Commended awards, reflecting the hard work, passion and precision behind each bottle.

Now in its 41st year, the IWC is recognised worldwide for its rigorous standards, impartiality and credibility, with each wine tasted blind by panels of expert judges over multiple rounds. Thousands of wines are entered from around the world, making the competition tough and our medal win even more rewarding. 

La Riojana wines awarded medals by this year’s IWC include:

Silver Medals

Co-op Fairtrade Torrontes Chardonnay 2024 
Co-op Fairtrade Bonarda Malbec 2024 
Tilimuqui Fairtrade Organic Malbec 2024 

Bronze Medals

Co-op Fairtrade Merlot 2024 
Co-op Fairtrade Cabernet Sauvignon 2024
Co-op Fairtrade Irresistible Organic Malbec 2023

Commended

Co-op Fairtrade Pinot Grigio 2024 
Co-op Fairtrade Shiraz Rosé 2024
Tilimuqui Fairtrade Malbec 2024

Walter Carol, Export Director for La Riojana, commented, “Each of these wines showcase our ongoing commitment to crafting quality Fairtrade wines that not only deliver on taste but also support the people and communities behind every bottle.” Carol continues, “We are delighted with these results. An IWC medal is a recognised seal of quality, one that is trusted by the trade and consumers alike.”