A special evening for an exceptional wine personality
A year ago, we celebrated the 100th birthday of May-Eliane de Lencquesaing, better known as Lady May. Now, her extraordinary wine journey has written another chapter in Switzerland.
On 13 June 2026, Lady May took centre stage at the Summer Chapter of the Commanderie de Bordeaux Suisse Romande at the Hôtel des Trois Couronnes in Vevey. Together with her grandson, Maxime Bureau, she met wine lovers who appreciate not only great wines, but also the stories behind them.
The evening brought together two worlds that could hardly be more closely connected: Pauillac in Bordeaux and Stellenbosch in South Africa.
What is the Commanderie de Bordeaux Suisse Romande?
The Commanderie de Bordeaux Suisse Romande is a long-established association in French-speaking Switzerland dedicated to Bordeaux wine culture. Its focus is on special tastings, culinary gatherings and exchanges centred around great Bordeaux wines.
The so-called Chapitres are celebratory occasions where wine, history and hospitality come together. It was therefore a perfect fit for Lady May to be welcomed as guest of honour. Her life story connects Bordeaux and South Africa in a truly unique way.
From Pichon Comtesse to Glenelly
May-Eliane de Lencquesaing shaped Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande in Pauillac for decades. With her clear vision and uncompromising commitment to quality, she established the château as one of the great names of Bordeaux’s Left Bank. But her story did not end in France. In 2003, at the age of 78, she embarked on a new adventure in South Africa and acquired Glenelly Estate in Stellenbosch. Her aim was not simply to replicate Bordeaux, but to combine French expertise with the distinctive character of South African soils, light and vines.
And so Glenelly was born: a wine estate with a Bordeaux soul and a distinctly South African identity.
An evening between memory and the future
In Vevey, this connection was felt in a particularly beautiful way. Mature wines from Château Pichon Comtesse de Lalande met Glenelly wines from Stellenbosch. The line-up included a Glenelly Reserve Chardonnay, Lady May 2019 and a Glenelly Estate Reserve.
It was not an ordinary tasting, but a journey through several decades of winemaking history. From the great classics of Pauillac to the characterful wines of Simonsberg, the evening revealed how much conviction, patience and personality can be found in a great wine.
Lady May: The heart of Glenelly
Lady May is Glenelly’s flagship wine, and it is no coincidence that it bears the name of its founder. This Cabernet Sauvignon-led Bordeaux blend stands for precision, elegance, structure and ageing potential.
It brings together Bordeaux’s classic signature with the power and freshness of Stellenbosch. Dark berries, cassis, subtle spice, cedarwood and finely woven tannins define its style. This is not a wine that aims for immediate impact; instead, it continues to unfold over time. That is precisely what makes it such a fitting tribute to Lady May: clear in its conviction, exacting in its execution and made for special moments.
Glenelly: A legacy with a future
Today, Glenelly stands for a wine philosophy that brings together provenance and precision. The wines are shaped by South African terroir while retaining the elegant structure Lady May brought with her from Bordeaux. The evening in Vevey showed that Glenelly has long since found its own place in the world of great wines—not as an imitation of Bordeaux, but as an independent voice from Stellenbosch.
Lady May remains far more than a name on the label. She represents courage, curiosity and the conviction that even with great experience, there are always new paths to explore.
A story that continues
The reception hosted by the Commanderie de Bordeaux Suisse Romande was therefore more than a tribute to an extraordinary personality. It was a reminder that wine can connect people, regions and generations.
From Pauillac to Stellenbosch, from France to South Africa and now back to Switzerland: the story of Lady May and Glenelly shows how a clear vision can grow into a wine estate with international renown.
