Sam's Club offers Fair Trade wine

BENTONVILLE, Ark. Sam's Club members will find a new choice in the wine aisles this month with the launch of the chain's first Fair Trade Certified wine, "Neu Direction", a 100% Malbec from the renowned winegrowing region of Lujan de Cuyo near Mendoza, Argentina. The wine is one of only a handful to receive this status in the inaugural year of the groundbreaking Fair Trade Wine certification program in the United States.

Neu Direction is produced by Vina de la Solidaridad (vines of solidarity), a co-op representing 20 small farms, which grow and hand pick the grapes and Bodega Furlotti the winery, a century's old family owned business. The classic Malbec is medium-bodied, fruit forward, with moderate tannis and ripe flavors of plum and cherry accented by a touch of chocolate. The wine was recognized by the London Independent as the best Fair Trade Certified red wine in the world in February 2008.

"This is an extremely food friendly red wine that complements dishes with pork, lamb, duck, turkey and beef, even salmon," said Dex McCreary, senior merchandise director of wine and spirits for Sam's Club. "We tried nearly 100 different fair trade wines to find the right one and it's gratifying to know we are helping the local growers in Mendoza and serving our members a premium product."

Neu Direction will sell for about $10 a bottle in more than 450 Sam's Club locations that are authorized to offer wine.