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who are Ethical Fine Wines

We are a small, but perfectly formed team based in Chipping Sodbury in the Cotswolds! The company was founded in 2007 by Susan McCraith - see her story below. Michele McLaren is our Office Manager and keeps everything running smoothly. We do not have a shop but sell wine and gifts online for UK delivery dispatched from a bonded warehouse in Wickwar, Gloucestershire.

We aim to be as environmentally responsible as possible, recycling our packaging, shredding office waste and using recycled stationery and products where possible. We use local suppliers and minimise unnecessary travel (which includes not travelling to vineyards and London tastings as much as we would like!).

For further information please read on. Alternatively browse our wines now or see Susan's Wines of the Month selection or Michele's Special Offers.

Susan McCraith, Master of Wine

The facts: after a French degree at Exeter University and a year's postgraduate business studies, I decided to get a job in France in the drinks industry (as a student would!).

I spent six months in Bordeaux and two years with Hennessy Cognac before coming back to the UK to work for a Bristol wine merchant. I progressed rapidly, becoming a Director in 1992 and gaining the Master of Wine qualification in 1994.

Headhunted by Waitrose in 1996 as a Central Buyer, I spent just over ten years there helping to build and shape the wine, beers and spirits assortment and marketing activities.

I am also one of the few female liverymen in the City of London's Vintners' Company. I have two children and a husband who is also in the wine trade, so guess what we talk about over dinner!

The story

In 2007 I took a decision - I left the comfort and security of a full-time job working for one of the UK's best companies to go it alone and set up my own business. It was not an easy decision, as a wine buyer for Waitrose, most people would think I had the perfect job. I was well-paid and I got to travel to some of the world's loveliest vineyards.

But I had that niggling feeling that now was the time to do something else, build something from scratch that I could be proud of - and something that would enable me to see my children more!

I took six months leave to think about it, walked 50 miles round the Cornish coast and enrolled on a course to become a business coach. The course helped enormously as I acquired skills to help others as well as myself! But in addition to coaching, I still wanted to do something with wine.

Cornwall - map in hand!

The increasing coverage in the media about the environment, social responsibility and ethical trading led me to think about 'ethical' wine, wines that address environmental and social issues. The key though is to find good quality wines that have these ethical credentials. And fortunately that's right up my street!

My number one criteria is quality - it's not as easy to make good quality wine from organically-grown grapes - you need to be highly selective, more so than usual. But when the winemaker gets it right, the results can be stunning. Many of my personal favourites are biodynamic. When the soil is alive, the wine is alive and it has a vibrancy and energy about it.

I see my mission as seeking out great wines, ethically produced, and bringing them to people who share the same values.

At the same time, by simply asking every wine producer I meet what his or her environmental or social policy is, I am actively encouraging change.

So I invite you to browse our selection of wines and enjoy discovering the world of ethical wine!

wines of the month

2008 Adobe Chardonnay, Casablanca, Chile - organic wine white Easy-drinking biodynamic Chardonnay with lightly oaked citrus fruit £7.15 Certified Organic grapes Biodynamic practice

Eight-bottle natural jute bag (you can add this to any wine order) A stylish and useful bag which holds eight wine bottles or lots of shopping! (contents not supplied) £8.99