Glenelly’s delightful baby steps

Published May 14, 2015

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Cape Town - Did you know there is an original Salvador Dali artwork residing in Stellenbosch? I did not. It can be found in the glass museum at Glenelly.

Glenelly is a baby in wine farm terms; its first vines were planted in 2004 after Grande Dame May-Eliane de Lencquesaing – owner of the Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande in Bordeaux with 30 years’ experience in the French wine business – bought the property the previous year. The land was formerly used for other fruit.

“I bought Glenelly because I believe in South Africa’s soil, microclimate and potential for quality wines, and I wanted to continue the French heritage of winemaking in South Africa that goes back more than three centuries. I have every confidence in this great country and its people, and wish to play a part in its economic development,” said De Lencquesaing, who is turning 90 next year.

Luke O’Cuinneagain is the wine maker, and Adi Badenhorst joined the Glenelly team as consultant and to share his innovative and creative ideas. They have the most amazing cellar in which to work. When we were offered a tour, I said no, let’s just get on with the business of tasting, but later an obviously and justifiably proud O’Cuinneagain skillfully lured us in there, and I’m glad he did.

It’s quite an amazing construction over four levels, built into the side of the mountain and operating completely on gravity flow principles.

But what impressed me most was that these four storeys have one fully glassed side which allows in not only natural light (so seldom, if ever, found in wine cellars), but also offers an inspiring and uplifting view for those working in there.

The small range of seven wines across three tiers include: The Lady May, the estate’s flagship cabernet; the Grand Vin De Glenelly range of a wooded chardonnay and the signature red blend of the estate; and the Glass Collection single varietal range comprising an unwooded chardonnay, a syrah, cabernet sauvignon and merlot.

While you are there, a visit to the glass museum is a must. The connection is a tribute to Madame’s (as she is affectionately known) “life-long passion for glass and the many attributes beautiful glass shares with fine wine”.

“Great wines are born from vines planted in poor soils just like glass is made from the poorest soil: sand. Both need heat to come to life. And like wine, glass starts as a liquid and only then is moulded into something of value, beauty and refinement” – which all makes perfect sense.

The collection is extensive and changes from time to time, but on any given day you will be able to view exquisite pieces – including Dali’s Leibniz Cross.

l Glenelly is open for wine tasting and sales Monday to Friday from 10am till 4.30pm, and on Saturdays from 10am to 4pm. Cellar tours can be booked in advance to take place on week days. On Fridays and Saturdays you can tuck into a meat and cheese platter for R65 a person while doing your tasting inside the cool tasting room or on the deck.

Glenelly Estate is in Lelie Street, Ida’s Valley, Stellenbosch. For more information call 021 809 6440, e-mail [email protected] or see www.glenellyestate.com.

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