Pigcasso

On the slopes of the Groot Drakenstein mountains in Franschhoek, an unlikely story of art, compassion and wine unfolds at a place most people know simply as Pigcasso. The property is home to Farm Sanctuary SA, a nonprofit animal sanctuary founded in 2016 by Joanne Lefson, who dedicated her life to rescuing farmed animals and giving them a dignified second chance. Nestled in one of the most celebrated wine valleys in the world, the sanctuary occupies a beautiful stretch of land on Elandskloof Road, surrounded by the vineyards and mountain peaks that define the Franschhoek landscape.

The sanctuary's most famous resident arrived that same year: a female pig rescued from a factory farm in the Winelands, whom Lefson named Pigcasso. When the young pig destroyed everything in her stall except a set of paint brushes, Lefson saw an opportunity. Through patient clicker training and positive reinforcement, Pigcasso learned to hold a brush in her mouth and apply paint to canvas. The colourful abstract works that followed captured international attention, raised hundreds of thousands of rands for the sanctuary, and earned the pig a place in the Guinness World Records as the most expensive animal artist ever. Her paintings were exhibited worldwide and sold for sums that funded the rescue and care of hundreds of animals.

Pigcasso passed away in March 2024, but her legacy lives on in the sanctuary she helped sustain and in the wines that bear her name. The Pigcasso wine label was created specifically to fund the sanctuary's ongoing rescue work, making every purchase an act of support. Today, the estate produces four wines under distinctive labels featuring the pig's own brushwork: BLACK (a Pinot Noir), WHITE (a Sauvignon Blanc), RED (a red blend) and ROSE. The wines are made from Franschhoek Valley fruit and reflect the cool-climate elegance the region is celebrated for, with the Pinot Noir earning particular praise for its varietal expression.

Beyond the tasting room, visitors can explore the sanctuary grounds, meet rescued animals including pigs, horses, goats and chickens, and view Pigcasso's remaining artworks on permanent display. The on-site Barn accommodation offers a unique overnight experience surrounded by the farm's gentle residents, with views across the valley to the Drakenstein peaks. Pigcasso also features as a stop on the popular Franschhoek Wine Tram route, making it an easy and memorable addition for visitors exploring the valley's estates.

What sets this property apart is its purpose. Every bottle sold and every tasting fee contributed goes directly to the care and rescue of farmed animals. It is a wine destination where the experience extends well beyond the glass, offering visitors a chance to connect with a story of creativity, kindness and a very remarkable pig who changed the way the world thinks about farm animals.