Lubanzi Orange Is 2022

Lubanzi is a wine company founded by Charlie Brain and Walker Brown, who arrived in South Africa in 2014 as exchange students from the USA and were so enamoured with the country that they decided to move here permanently – Lubanzi is named for a stray dog that accompanied them during a Wild Coast hike.

The wine company operates according to the principles of being “innovative, forward thinking and socially responsible”. Of note is that 50% of net profit is given to the Pebbles Project, which enables children from farming communities to access quality education programmes plus health, nutrition and social work services.

When it comes to being innovative, their labels are particularly striking. The Cuvée PN Rainboat 2021 designed by Chris Auret won gold at the Label Design Awards 2021 and the Orange Is Skin Contact 2022 designed by Pr$dnt Honey was awarded the Grand Prix at this year’s event.

The Orange Is label was adapted from the jazz album ‘Indaba Is’, a compilation of current South African improvised music and jazz involving 52 different artists – scan the QR code on the back label to listen to the album.

As for the wine, it was made by Jurgen Gouws of Intellego and consists of 86% Chenin Blanc and 14% Viognier, sourced from various Swartland sites, time on skins lasting seven days. The nose shows quite pronounced reduction but also peach, apricot, orange and potpourri, ginger, earth and some waxiness. The palate is light (alcohol is 11.5%) but flavourful with a gentle acidity and a finish that’s not too grippy. Price: R270 a bottle.

CE’s rating: 91/100.

As for their still wines, they’ve partnered with Trizanne Barnard of Trizanne Signature Wines and Bruce Jack respectively, the range consisting of Rosé Bubbles, Chenin Blanc 2023, Sauvignon Blanc 2023, Cinsault 2023 and Shiraz Grenache Mourvèdre 2022, all selling for R130 a bottle or R42 per 250ml can – if you’re looking for cheerful, easy-drinking wines with funky packaging, then look no further…

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