Lubanzi Chenin Blanc, Swartland 2022 250ml can

A relatively new and unique venture established by young friends with a travel bug, whose trek in South Africa introduced them to the wandering dog that gave the wines their name. Lubanzi decided to join them on a journey across part of South Africa that ended up being 100 miles and six days long.

Charlie Brain and Walker Brown made valued and valuable friends and contacts in the wine industry on their Cape journey and have enjoyed the support and backing of Cape winemaking legends Bruce Jack and Trizanne Barnard from the outset. Their aim was to give back to the community while making wines they can be proud of. They are Integrity & Sustainability Certified and proud to be Fair For Life Fair Trade Certified too, keen to ensure that human rights are safeguarded at every stage of production, so that those who work for them get a fair shake and a fair share. 50% of their net profit is passed on to leading charity, the Pebbles Project, that works with families of South African wine farm workers to access high-quality healthcare and education.

The wines are based on hand-harvested fruit from the Swartland, a chenin blanc, and a red blend of shiraz, cinsault, mourvèdre and grenache, both made with minimal intervention and natural yeasts for the fermentation. The white spends time on its lees in stainless steel while the red blend sees some time in large oak casks - foudres - that are less about imparting oaky flavours and aromas and more about rounding out the wine. Wines are also canned and, unsurprisingly but pleasingly, are bottled with labels made from sugar cane rather than paper from trees. These are wines worth following for many reasons.