In 2001 the Co-op became Britain’s first supermarket chain to introduce a Fairtrade wine range.

Others have followed but by 2011 the Co-op was selling 60% of the UK’s Fairtrade wine and in turn pumping millions of pounds back to growers and workers.

The retail giant’s first partnership was with Los Robles Co-operative in Chile. Since then, other ‘trading relationships’ have been set up in Chile, Argentina and South Africa – with some stunning results. Not only are its Fairtrade wines more ethical, its also notched up numerous awards.

With a handful of the Co-op’s Fairtrade wines on special offer until October 8, I decided to run the rule over a couple made by Argentina’s largest wine co-operative and the world’s biggest producer of organic Fairtrade wines, La Riojana.

The producer, based in the foothills of the Andes in Argentina’s north west, won numerous awards at this year’s International Wine Challenge (IWC) and International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) – including a special Fairtrade award for its Raza Reserve Fairtrade Malbec 2011 . Indeed Argentina’s adopted red grape appears to be a speciality of the co-operative which boasts around 500 members.

The Co-operative Fairtrade Malbec 2012 , from the fertile Famatina Valley in La Rioja province, was hand-harvested and spent five months maturing in oak under the direction of one of Argentina’s most celebrated winemakers, Rodolfo Griguol. The result is a dark brooding beast of a wine which does exactly what it says on the label. The aromas and flavours are of plum and dark cherry mixed with chocolate, tobacco and vanilla. It’s power mixed with finesse and reduced to £6.99 is a bargain for malbec lovers.

The Co-operative Fairtrade Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 , also from the Famatina Valley, is a concentrated concoction of ripe dark fruits, minty herbs and spice with fine tannins and a smattering of vanilla. It’s easy-drinking without being spectacular but reduced to £6.49 is good value.

To the original rioja region in Spain and the Co-op has halved the price of Marques Valido Rioja Reserva 2008 to a bargain £5.49. Made by multi-award winning producer Bodegas Muriel in a vintage officially rated as ‘very good’, this is a classy complex wine made from tempranillo grapes with a bright nose of red fruit, cherry and vanilla. Intense flavours of red fruit and herbs stand out along with hints of blackcurrant and spice and plenty of oak-aged vanilla. It’s excellent at the price and will go great with red meats.

Coming in at £4.99 a bottle, the Co-op’s selling a red and a white from around Portugal’s capital Lisbon.

The Segredo do Lisboa Castelao Syrah 2011 has aromas of blackberry, plum, pepper and hints of vanilla. There’s bags of pepper and blackberry in the mouth in what is an easy-drinking red with soft tannins.

Segredo do Lisboa Fernao Pires Arinto Chardonnay 2012 has citrus and floral aromas – the latter typical of the firnao pires grape. The light flavours are similar with a touch of honey and melon and an acidic finish.

For just 50p more, Stellenbosch Drive Chardonnay 2012 is in a different league and was IWC Commended. It’s one of several brands produced by South African wine giant Origin, which is behind familiar labels such as Lion’s Gate, Stormhoek and the fairtrade brand Fairhills. Reduced from £6.99 at the Co-op, the chardonnay has intense citrus and tropical fruit aromas. The taste packs a punch  with lemon and grapefruit and hints of pineapple and tropical fruit. But there’s also an oaky vanilla complexity underpinning the fruit leading to a long finish and a lot of pleasure.

Finally to New Zealand and The Ned Sauvignon Blanc 2013 from Marlborough’s Waihopai River. Reduced to £7.25, the ever-reliable Ned doesn’t disappoint in his latest vintage. Packed with zesty flavour, this year’s theme is green fruit with lime, passion fruit, gooseberry and grassy notes. There’s also a hint of something a little more tropical and a racy acidity. It’s great value, typically Marlborough and runs rings around many similar-priced sauvignons.