Glenelly

Today's post is about a wine estate I had not known until I was investigating the Viljoen family history and the history of the Hugenot's in South Africa.

Hugenot's are of French origin. In 17th century France, French protestants (from primarily southern and western France) emigrated to other parts of the world after much violence and hostility, as they were not accepted in the primarily Lutheran and Catholic communities. Some Hugenot's emigrated to South Africa at the height of the Dutch East India Company rule. The first Hugenot to arrive and stay in the Cape Colony was Francois Villon in 1671. He was a "free wagonmaker" and later a "Free Burgher" (free farmer). He married Cornelia Campenaar in 1676. Francois Villon and Cornelia Campenaar had 6 children, 2 sons (Henning and Johannes) who took the Villon surname and 4 daughters, the last of whom (Francina) was born after her fathers death in 1689. The surname Villon was soon lost in translation and became Viljoen.

Francois Villon was given the farm Ida's Valley in 1682 by Simon van der Stel. The estate, Glenelly is just a small portion of the original land. The farms history until 1783 is not clear but what is known is that it has remained in hands of French Hugenot's. Elie Miailhe was granted the title of "royal wine broker" in 1783. Today, May de Lencquesaing (neé Miailhe) (the owner of Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande in the Bordeux region in France) now continues to uphold the French history and traditions on Glenelly with the help of her children and grandchildren. 

The grounds of Glenelly are exceptional and quite unique for the region; there is a bistro, glass museum and beautiful tasting room. We have been told that the original Villon farm house (now restored) and Francois Villon's final resting place are on the property but not accessible to the public. 

On to the wine. If you taste anything on your trip to Glenelly, taste their flagship wine, the Lady May. This oak aged Cabernet Sauvignon (with a touch of Merlot and Petit Verdot) is different to what South Africans know to be Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine is lighter and not so dry with fruity aromas (I almost want to say that I can taste the fynbos that grows nearby). This is really a superb wine. Would go perfectly with a lamb roast! A wine that really accentuates the French style of this farm is the Estate Reserve. This wine is a blend between Syrah and Bordeaux styled wines (Cabernet, Merlot and Petit Verdot), going back to the old Claret style. Matured in French Oak barrels for 18 months, this wine has aroma's of newly toasted bread, plums and for a lack of a better description, good old fashioned South African chutney. 

This farm embodies what it is to be French in South Africa, amalgamating 2 cultures, traditions and histories.