Appears in
Oxford Companion to Wine

By Jancis Robinson

Published 2006

  • About

WIETA, or Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trade Association, is an organization dedicated to improving social and employment conditions in the wine industry of south africa. Members include grape-growers, wine producers, trades unions, retailers, agents, importers, and exporters of South African wine. Its code of conduct includes a prohibition on child and enforced labour and obliges members to provide a safe and healthy working environment with freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining, a living wage, reasonable working hours, regular employment, security of tenure, and protection against unfair discrimination. Members are subject to regular audits, and, when compliant, are accredited by WIETA. In 2014 certification arrangements were being extended with a view to ensuring that over time WIETA compliance will be incorporated in a single seal, issued by the Wine & Spirit Board and covering not merely compliance in terms of the wine of origin scheme but also environmental sustainability (see integrated production of wine) and ethical responsibility.