Summary: La Petite Ferme is marking International Pinotage Day on 10 October 2026 with the arrival of The ZA 2024, a new Pinotage made from old vine fruit grown high in the Piekenierskloof mountains near Citrusdal. Crafted by winemaker Wikus Pretorius, the release arrives just over a century after Pinotage was first created in South Africa in 1925.
Some wines arrive with tasting notes. The ZA 2024 from La Petite Ferme arrives with a century of history behind it.
On 10 October 2026, International Pinotage Day, La Petite Ferme will introduce a Pinotage that connects one of South Africa’s great wine stories with old vines, high-altitude vineyards and the winemaking philosophy of Wikus Pretorius.
Pinotage itself began in 1925, when Stellenbosch University professor Abraham Perold planted four seeds at his home after crossing Pinot Noir with Cinsaut. The idea was to bring together the elegance of Pinot Noir and the resilience of Cinsaut, creating something distinctly new.
- It very nearly disappeared before it had a chance. Perold left the university before making wine from his creation, and the seedlings were almost cleared from his former garden. Lecturer Charlie Niehaus recognised what was growing there and moved them to safety. From those precarious beginnings came a grape that would eventually become uniquely associated with South African wine.
What makes The ZA 2024 Pinotage from La Petite Ferme different?
Pinotage did not have an entirely easy road from those first seedlings to the wine lists of today. Early examples could be harsh and unconventional, and the variety faced plenty of scepticism as South African wines returned to international markets during the 1990s.
Winemakers continued working with it, gradually learning how factors such as older vines, vineyard location and a gentler approach in the cellar could allow Pinotage to show a different side of itself.
That story now provides the backdrop to The ZA 2024 from La Petite Ferme.
Rather than sourcing its Pinotage fruit close to the estate, La Petite Ferme has turned to old vines in the Piekenierskloof mountains near Citrusdal. These vines grow at altitude, are dry-farmed and contend with wind and challenging conditions.
It is fruit with a strong sense of place, and winemaker Wikus Pretorius has approached it with a philosophy centred on allowing the vineyard and vintage to speak rather than imposing a predetermined style.
Pretorius brings an interesting journey of his own to the bottle. His winemaking career has included building cellars from scratch in Namibia and working harvests across three continents. At La Petite Ferme, that experience meets a grape with a particularly South African history.
The result is The ZA 2024, arriving on International Pinotage Day, 10 October 2026.
For Pinotage drinkers, the release offers a chance to explore La Petite Ferme’s interpretation of a grape first created more than a century ago. For those still making up their minds about Pinotage, it might be a particularly fitting bottle with which to continue the conversation.
Quick details
- Producer: La Petite Ferme
- Wine: The ZA 2024
- Variety: Pinotage
- Release date: 10 October 2026
- Occasion: International Pinotage Day
- Origin: Piekenierskloof mountains near Citrusdal
- Vineyard conditions: High altitude and dry-farmed
FAQs
When will La Petite Ferme release The ZA 2024?
The ZA 2024 arrives on 10 October 2026, International Pinotage Day.
What grape is The ZA 2024 made from?
It is a Pinotage.
Where are the grapes for The ZA 2024 grown?
The old vine fruit comes from high in the Piekenierskloof mountains near Citrusdal, where the vines are dry-farmed.
Who makes The ZA 2024 at La Petite Ferme?
The wine is shaped by La Petite Ferme winemaker Wikus Pretorius.
Who created Pinotage?
Professor Abraham Perold created Pinotage in 1925 by crossing Pinot Noir and Cinsaut.
