Madame May-Eliane de Lencquesaing is a member of one of Bordeaux’s oldest wine families – the Miailhe, who owned the famous Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Grand Cru Classé, Pauillac, Bordeaux. Her pursuit of excellence at Château Pichon Lalande over 30 years, since she took over from her father in 1978, saw the wines being elevated to some of the best in the world and led to Madame being awarded Decanter Magazine’s Woman of the Year in 1994, among several other prestigious accolades. She also established a Glass Museum at Château Pichon Lalande housing Europe’s biggest private collection of hand-blown glass.
May’s wine journey continued in South Africa with the purchase of Glenelly Estate in 2003, where she replanted the former fruit farm to pristine vineyards, built a state-of-the-art winery and tasting centre, began producing a highly-acclaimed range of wines. In 2007 Madame sold Château Pichon to Roederer Champagne, including her private glass collection, and has since devoted her time to the development of Glenelly and a new precious glass collection housed on the estate.
Masterpiece by Italian glassblower
The presentation of the extensive private collection of glass acquired by De Lencquesaing has been totally redesigned to provide a perfect home for the 160 plus glass pieces, antique and contemporary, dating back to the 1st century BC. This valuable and exquisitely beautiful collection from around the world, with both artistic and archaeological merit, includes works by contemporary South African glass-blowers like David Reade, Liz Lacey and the late Shirley Cloete; a Salvador Dali creation, entitled Cross Leibniz; and a masterpiece by the Italian Glassblower Master, Lino Tagliapietra. Visitors are able to discover and learn through a journey retracing 2000 years of glass making. Housed in large glass-fronted cabinets with internal lighting, set against a backdrop of dark walls, the effect is dramatic ensuring the glass pieces are the centre of attention.
Madame’s extensive glass collection, as well as the Glenelly Glass Collection range of wines inspired by this collection, pay tribute to her life-long passion for both elements, and the many attributes beautiful glass shares with fine wine – both are produce of the earth, simple and inexpensive in origin and produced from the poorest soils. Both need heat to come to life and require the intervention of man to be moulded into something of value, beauty and refinement. And, when combined, fine wine and elegant glass complement one another. The Glenelly Glass Collection range of wines is an ode to her love of beautiful glass.
Where: Glenelly Estate: Lelie Street, Idas Valley, Stellenbosch
Tasting Room, Glass Collection: Tues, Wed 10am – 6pm, Thurs – Sat until 7pm, Sun until 3pm
Info: 021 809 6446, e-mail tasting@glenelly.co.za
Vine Bistro: Tues – Sun for lunch and Thurs – Sat for dinner
Book: 021 809 6444, e-mail bistro@glenelly.co.za
Visit: www.glenellyestate.com
GPS: S33°55’6.1″E018°52’45.1″
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