Glenelly Estate has become an institution in the Cape Winelands for local and international guests. With its terroir-focused wines, captivating glass collection and Vine Bistro. Glenelly Estate has been offering many a seasoned traveller, day visitor and returning guest an all-encompassing Winelands experience.
The secret behind Glenelly’s success is its ability to reinvent itself and continue to deliver a consistent and high-quality experience to each visitor. At each turn, it pays homage to its family history and Stellenbosch’s story.
In this regard, newly appointed Cellar Master Dirk Van Zyl encapsulates everything that Glenelly Estate and its award-winning wines are a testament to.
“Dirk comes with a wealth of experience from his time at Kleine Zalze, DeMorgenzon, and Saxenburg, and we truly believe that he will seamlessly take over the position from Luke O’Cuinneagain. This will make Dirk van Zyl the second Cellarmaster to lead the winemaking at Glenelly Estate.”
CEO – Nicolas Bureau spoke about Van Zyl’s wealth of industry experience.
Vintners since 1783, the proprietor’s wine legacy has been extensive. With Glenelly’s ethos steeped in family and history, it was vital to Nicolas Bureau that the incoming Cellar Master continue to embody this ancestry by continuing to produce elegant, structured and timeless wines.
“We have looked at a huge number of applications, and after selecting the profiles we felt would fit the best with our philosophy, we did a thorough interview ending with a blind tasting. The idea was for us to see if the applicants had the same point of view and appreciation of the style of the wines we had in front of us.
Continuously being cognisant of Glenelly’s three pillars, Bureau wants Van Zyl to have the freedom to give his interpretation of the estate’s individualistic terroir and pen a new chapter in the estate’s story.
“We are looking for continuity in the style of wines we have become known for, focusing on balance, age-ability, and ultimately, elegance. My grandmother, May de Lencquesaing, holds these qualities dear to her heart.”
The Glenelly property features east-facing slopes, different from the more common west-facing slopes in the Stellenbosch district. Situated in a saddle between two hills, the estate also gets a prevailing breeze throughout the day, making it a cooler spot in a generally warm area.
In this, Cellar Master Dirk van Zyl will undoubtedly benefit from the great experience of Glenelly’s viticulturist and farm manager Heinrich Louw, newly promoted winemaker Jerome Likwa and the rest of their longstanding team.
When asked about his new role at Glenelly Estate, “I have long admired Glenelly’s brand ethos – one of focus and unwavering commitment to excellence. Having established themselves as one of South Africa’s top producers, in a relatively short period of time, one can only be honoured and incredibly excited to join such a well-established team and brand. I look forward to continuing the pursuit of expressing the estate’s incredible Terroir and story.” Van Zyl shared.
More about Glenelly Estate
Glenelly Estate, the award-winning Stellenbosch wine estate with a French touch, located on the southern slopes of the Simonsberg, is owned by May de Lencquesaing, Bordeaux doyenne and former owner of Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande.
Struck by the tremendous potential of South Africa’s Terroir and the country’s beauty, May de Lencquesaing embarked on a French adventure on African soil when she purchased Glenelly in 2003. She replanted the former fruit farm to pristine vineyards, built a state-of-the-art winery and began producing a highly-acclaimed range of wines.
The winemaking philosophy at Glenelly Estate is minimal intervention at every stage, allowing the fruit to express itself and seeking to achieve the perfect balance of French style and South African terroir, producing wines that appeal to lovers of the old and new worlds alike.
Glenelly Tasting Room and Glass Collection:
Opening hours: Tuesday and Saturday 10h00 to 17h00 and Sunday until 15h00
Email: tasting@glenelly.co.za – Tel: 021 809 6440
The Vine Bistro:
Opening hours:
Lunch Tuesdays to Sundays from 12:00 – 15:00
Dinner Fridays and Saturdays from 18:30 – 20:00
Email: bistro@glenelly.co.za – Tel: 021 809 6440
