Description
Genevieve was founded by Melissa Genevieve Nelsen, a former pilot from rural Elgin, South Africa, who transitioned into winemaking after caring for her mother and discovering her passion at Wildekrans Wine Estate's tasting room. Mentored by Ross Gower of Klein Constantia, she launched her label with its inaugural 2008 vintage, focusing exclusively on premium Chardonnay-based Méthode Cap Classique Blanc de Blancs from Bot River's Van der Stel Pass terroir, doubling production after early success. In 2017 she purchased a farm in Bot River Valley with her partner Leon—a viticulturist—converting an old barn into a tasting room and guest cottages and embracing regenerative farming for sustainability. Named after the patron saint of Paris—reflecting her parents' love for France—Genevieve embodies Melissa's vision of elegant, small-batch sparklers that capture the region's cool-climate finesse.
The 2021 Genevieve Blanc de Blancs Brut is a Méthode Cap Classique sparkling wine from Bot River in South Africa's Overberg region, crafted by winemaker Melissa Genevieve Nelsen. Méthode Cap Classique (MCC) is South Africa's term for premium sparkling wines produced using the traditional method, identical to that of Champagne, where a second fermentation occurs inside the bottle to create fine bubbles and complexity. This 100% Chardonnay expression highlights the cool-climate terroir near Walker Bay, with grapes from old vines on deep riverside soils. Whole bunch pressing ensured clean, high-quality juice, followed by 42 months of lees aging before disgorgement to build finesse and complexity. Minimal intervention in the cellar allows the vintage to shine through. The 2021 Genevieve Blanc de Blancs Brut MCC displays a pale green-gold hue with fine, persistent bubbles. On the nose, it offers citrus, white florals, fresh pear, hazelnut, chalky minerality, lemon zest, chamomile, and subtle brioche. The palate is crisp, light-bodied, and mineral-driven, balancing elegant green pear, lemon pith, almond skin, and flinty wet stone with lively acidity and a racy, layered finish.
