It’s always good to know where something you consume comes from, and equally important: where the money is going. One of my personal stand-by choices began as I prepped up a bar in a Kansas City hotel for dinner service. We were the dinner only restaurant and a young, red-bearded man asked if he could sit at the bar to take his lunch, away from the lobby. I asked him what brought him into town,and he said he was from KC, but now ran a wine label in South Africa. Charlie, as he introduced himself, began to fill me in that he named his wines “Lubanzi” after a dog that followed him on trek for a week in South Africa. There he decided to pursue a mission of a sustainable and charitable wine company that also made some delicious wines. At the time, they were still new stateside. Today they collaborate with local designers, winemakers, and farmers to produce a few different wines. One of which is a Chenin Blanc that pairs perfectly with being outside, whether it’s on the patio or camping. This wine is full of apple, pear, muskmelon, and a hint of lemon. Also, it’s available in a can, which is great for the outdoors. Aluminum is lightweight for carrying out and very quick to cool down when time is of the essence. These cans can go nearly anywhere and can be recycled with ease. Also, another perk of aluminum is that it cuts down on packing materials for shipping and ultimately lessens the environmental impact. Lubanzi prides themselves on being Fair Trade, Certified B, Climate Neutral, and Vegan. And for their profits? Well, they participate in 1% for the Planet, and give 50% to the Pebbles Project to help with healthcare and education for the farming communities that grow the grapes. When you need to make a game time decision, these cans make for a lot of good choices.