Our wineries this month have very mixed ways in which they give back to their communities and to the earth. Fleur du Cap Fleur du Cap is a range of exceptional wines that reflects the generosity of nature and the dedication of the viticulturist and winemaker who personally select only the finest sunripened grapes to produce wines of abundant flavour and character. In keeping with its role as one of the most important innovators in the Southern Hemisphere, this winery was the first in South Africa to produce a range of unfiltered wines which consists of wines that are close to nature with minimum human interference. Their wines are crafted in compliance with universal guidelines to ensure environmentally-friendly wine-making practices. We say: Try out their amazing salt and wine pairing dinner on the 29th November. Place in the Sun Place in the Sun wines are lively and refreshing, food-friendly and pocket-friendly. They are also Fair Trade accredited. The Fairtrade label stands for sustainability and justice in production and trade processes - and this is how we're able to facilitate the empowerment of farmers and farm workers and encourage community upliftment. Place in the Sun wines are produced from grapes sourced from prime Devon Valley vineyards. Growers are paid a premium for their fruit, directed towards social development of the wine farm workers, who decide on how the funds are to be spent. Currently, premiums are funding early learning projects; tuition and school uniforms at schools of choice amongst farm workers; school and community sporting activities; and the creation of vegetable gardens to improve nutrition amongst local communities. We say: For Summer, order a case of their Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Earthbound Wines Formerly called Tukulu, the range consists of five varieties, four of which are also certified organically grown in the Papkuilsfontein vineyards near Darling. “Earthbound wines have a conscience: from how the grapes are cultivated, to considering its carbon footprint from farm to fridge, to reinvesting in the land and its people. It’s also a high quality wine that is easy-drinking with wide appeal,” says winemaker Samuel Viljoen. Earthbound has a long-standing legacy that is intricately linked to its place of origin and the people who produce the wine. Previously bottled under the popular label Tukulu, one of South Africa’s foremost empowerment labels, the wine is today made by the same local farming community and continues to ensure strong compliance to its Fairtrade certification. We say: Try out their wines with a braai this summer.