Oct 2020 –
La Petite Ferme’s Baboon Rock Rosé scoops coveted award
La Petite Ferme is situated in arguably the most historic, beautiful and captivating town in the Cape Winelands. Just an hour’s drive from Cape Town you will find the unique tranquillity, luxury and warmth of the country hotel and boutique winery, La Petite Ferme.
La Petite Ferme winemaker, Wikus Pretorius, recently announced the latest addition to the respected Baboon Rock label, a rosé produced from 100% Grenache Noir grapes grown and harvested in Franschhoek, touted as South Africa’s most sought-after winemaking terroir. Wikus’ award-winning rosé scooped Double Gold in the coveted Rosé Rocks wine competition. South Africa’s first dedicated rosé wine competition, Rosé Rocks seeks to recognise excellence in rosé winemaking and promote the SA Rosé category.
A fruit farm initially, La Petite Ferme experienced a metamorphosis in 1996 with its first orchard fields settled under vines. Today, La Petite Ferme is a celebrated destination for all local and international guests, offering award-winning cuisine, wines, and accommodation. The boutique farm’s award-winning wine labels comprise the house label La Petite Ferme, the ever-popular Baboon Rock label and premium wines namely, Variation, Verdict and WIKUS.
At La Petite Ferme, each guest enjoys the perfect combination of private, traditional country-style luxury accommodation and heart-warming hospitality. Situated on the slopes of the Oliphants Pass and Middagkrans Mountain Range, La Petite Ferme offers a Manor House and Vineyard Suites each with spectacular views and comfort. Overlooking the beautiful Franschhoek Valley, you can take in the vista and relax in this picture-perfect paradise. Perfect for any season, come and snuggle up next to the fireplace in winter or cool down in the private splash pools during summer.
“A favourite destination for both local and international guests, at La Petite Ferme we offer exceptional cuisine, boutique wines and luxurious accommodation synonymous with the Franschhoek valley. The great service, hospitality and spectacular views are intoxicating,” says Riaan Kruger, General Manager. “Of course, all of this is only made possible by our tight-knit, hard-working team. Delivering outstanding service is what we love to do. We are exceptionally proud of Wikus and his world-class, well-renowned winemaking. Wikus’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 had corks popping with its 90-point rating by Winemag, and glasses clinking with his Gold standard achievement at the Gilbert & Gaillard International Challenge 2020.
Handcrafted wines
The Franschhoek area is well known for producing exceptional top-quality wines. Famous for the subtle yet full flavours it delivers through each cultivar. La Petite Ferme prides itself on being a small, intimate boutique style cellar. The winery offers a full range of wines which includes red, white and rosé.
Each wine delivers on the promise of being an exceptional example of what the Franschhoek terroir has to offer—bringing forward a perfect balance of winemaking skill and sustainable farm management. Guests take in the atmosphere while experiencing some of the best handcrafted wines in the valley. Cellar tours are exclusively for hotel guests, by appointment.
The La Petite Ferme Rosé, produced from 100% Grenache, is cold, whole bunch pressed and removed from the skins immediately to create the light salmon pink colour. Tasting notes include aromas of citrus, grapefruit and strawberry candy floss on the nose with the same flavours following through onto the palate while finishing crisp and dry. Grapes are picked between 19-23 balling (the measurement of sugar content in grape must), crushed and cold-pressed fermented in stainless steel tanks. A well-balanced wine, it has refreshingly low alcohol levels of 12.83% typical of European-style wines, a residual sugar volume of 1.7g/l and a pH of 3.19.
Baboon Rock Range
Winemaker Wikus works shoulder to shoulder with Frans Malies, Farm Manager at La Petite Ferme and longest-serving staff member. Together, Wikus and Frans run a sustainably operated winery, their farming practices underpinned by an in-depth understanding of the delicate balance of nature. Their methods, mindful of the environment, enable the protection of those that have called this land home for longer than the provenance of their beautiful wines.
Wikus says, “The Baboon Rock label has grown in popularity, especially in Europe, with Belgium and the UK being our biggest markets for this brand. We took over management of this specific Grenache vineyard in 2017, and it was always my goal to use a portion of this to produce a more Provençal-style rosé from it. The vineyard, planted in 2004, is only 0.39 hectares in size. Joining the Baboon Rock Unwooded Chardonnay wine is the Baboon Rock Rosé now forming the Baboon Rock Range. Being the maiden vintage of rosé from this block, we only produced 1, 200 bottles. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the wine, and we are very excited about the new direction our rosé still wine has taken. I was delighted with its recent performance at the Rosé Rocks wine competition. The Baboon Rock Rosé will replace the current rosé in the La Petite Ferme Range and I am considering adding another wine to the Baboon Rock range soon. Enjoy this wine chilled on its own or pair with light summer salads, trout or salmon dishes. Grenache Noir produces a beautiful blush wine with elegant fruit aromas of candy apple, strawberries with light citrus notes.”
Wine Orders:
Baboon Rock Rosé is distributed directly from the La Petite Ferme farm.
Wikus Pretorius wine@lapetiteferme.co.za
Address: Franschhoek Pass Road | Franschhoek | Western Cape
Telephone: +27 (0) 21 876 3016
For Online orders in South Africa, please purchase here or, via the Wine Club.
Experience the charm of La Petite Ferme and our award-winning Baboon Rock Rosé firsthand. Whether you’re a local or international guest, we’re here to help you with any inquiries or bookings. Contact us to plan your visit to our serene country hotel and boutique winery, nestled in the stunning Franschhoek Valley. Our team is ready to provide exceptional service, from organising private wine tastings to booking your stay in our comfortable accommodations. Reach out today and let us make your visit unforgettable.