Collection: Glenelly

A new chapter began for the Glenelly Estate in 2003 when it was acquired by May-Eliane de Lencquesaing, esteemed owner of Bordeaux’s Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande. Driven by her belief in the Cape’s terroir, her desire to contribute to South Africa’s economic development, and her commitment to continuing the three-century heritage of French winemaking in the country, Madame de Lencquesaing transformed the 123-hectare Glenelly Estate, which had traditionally focused on fruit production.

After extensive study of soil structure and weather patterns, Madame de Lencquesaing strategically allocated 54.5 hectares for red grape varieties and 5.5 hectares for white varieties. The remainder of the estate was dedicated to olive trees and preserved forest. Today, the vineyards showcase five main red grape varieties, each chosen for its unique contribution to the wines: Cabernet Sauvignon for structural elegance, Syrah for fresh finesse, Petit Verdot for complexity, Merlot for freshness and fruity nuance and finally, Cabernet Franc which pairs with the Merlot to create a Pomerol-style character in select wines. Named for Madame de Lencquesaing’s second passion, collecting antique glassware, The Glass Collection reds each feature one of these grape varietals. Madame de Lencquesaing has said, “Fine wine and fine glass share many mysterious attributes, both are extracted from poor soil by the skill of man.”