africhic.com, the brand new fashion e-boutique for African designers, has made its catwalk debut with an exclusive ‘discover African design’ press launch.
Held on 28th of January 09, the new gallery at Ellerman House in Cape town played host to a select crowd of magazine editors and fashion mavens. The clothes and accessories designers themselves also came to fly to flag for this exciting e-tail venture that offers a global platform for homegrown labels such as Lalesso, Michelle Ludek, Nazir, Suzaan Heyns, Superella, Thula Sindi, Missibaba, urban africa, Ida Elsje and Philippa Green.
The fashionable crowd looked stunning dressed in chic evening wear including Michelle Cowley in a black&white Marion&Lindie dress, her sister Lisa in a red evening gown from NY brand 12 street. Presenter Isabella de Villiers rocked a vintage outfit rounded with very dark lips for a great contrast. Actress Amanda Dilima chose a fabulous Suzaan Heyns dress with signature shoulder detail in leather and very feminine hip pocket detail. The woman behind the venture, Sylvia Gruber, greeted guests in a figure-hugging full length dress from Nazir (available at africhic.com) demonstrating that high style is now just one click away.
After mingling at the reception area with a glass or two of Cap Classique from Genevieve enjoying the beautiful weather and views of Bantry Bay, the guests were lead into the Gallery where africhic.com fashion was displayed all amongst beautiful contemporary art – creating an ambience to perfectly convey the ‘discover African design’ message. After a presentation about the brand, the guests were all then invited to help themselves to a shopping voucher and to start shopping.
see here our press release for more info; and click here to find many more gorgeous pics from the event and other pics from our shoots…all available in high-res (just click on picture and above image on the All Sizes button and you can download any size you need…)
Genevieve Methode Cap Classique
– Wine Review
Churned out on January 6th, 2010
It’s that time of the year when things speed up again and it’s time to have a good bottle of fizz before the daily grind kicks back in.
Michael Olivier suggests that we start the year off with the loud pop of a bottle of fizz..
The price: Around R180 a bottle
First Impression: Cheerful fizz, serious product. Fun packaging.
The Story: Melissa Nelsen – middle name Genevieve – was born of parents who were captivated by their time in France and gave their daughter the name of Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris. Melissa lives in Bot River on a farm which has a patch of Chardonnay. Über winemaker Ross Gower helped her turn them into a stunning classical champagne style wine.
The Taste: Delicate and elegant, it smells and tastes of white fleshed peaches. Nice fresh baked brioche tastes too.
Michael says: Melissa and the Gowers made 5500 bottles of the Genevieve in 2008. Extensive time on the lees has ensured character and style. The inaugural 1500 bottles have just been released after 18 months on the lees whilst the next batch will lie for a further time on lees creating a benchmark for further vintages to come.
Did You Know?: Lying on the lees, means that during the second fermentation in the bottle, the wine is left to lie with the expired yeast cells which add flavour.
The small print: 100% Chardonnay from the Overberg. Whole bunch pressed.
Contact details: Melissa 083 302 6562. melissa@genevievemcc.co.za or www.genevievemcc.co.za
Thanks to Michael for all the wine reviews, don’t forget to buy his book – The People’s Guide!
See you soon.
Posted by Chris von Ulmenstein under Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio, Wine news
One of the fringe benefits of writing is that one meets some very special persons. One such lady is Melissa Genevieve Nelsen, who has just launched the first vintage of her new Genevieve Methode Cap Classique.
Melissa grew up in the lovely fruit-farming valley of Elgin, dreaming of becoming an air hostess. Her late mother challenged her to think big, and to become a pilot rather than a hostess. Despite the financial challenge of paying for the flying lessons, paid for by waitressing, Melissa persevered, and qualified with a commercial pilot’s licence, flying for a small charter company in Johannesburg. Read more
Published on
December 16, 2009 in
Bot River, cape royale luxury hotel, mcc and melissa nelsen.
Tags: Bot River, cape ro, cape royale luxury hotel, genevieve, mcc, melissa nelsen, sky bar, sparkling wine.
Late last week, John went to the launch of a new MCC sparkling wine, Genevieve – a brunch at the Cape Royal Hotel’s rooftop Sky Bar in Green Point, a quick taxi ride from our shop. It is a very good first effort by Melissa Genevieve Nelsen ..read more
The bubbles go on – and on, and on …
November 26th, 2009 by Cathy Marston
Truly sorry if you don’t like sparkling wine folks, but it just seems that EVERYTHING I am going to these days involves fizz. In fact, now I think about it, actually I am not going to apologise for this because the more fizz and fun in your life, the better it is.
This is especially true if you get invited to a champagne brunch at 10am on a Thursday morning – a particularly decadent time for drinking if you ask me. The Sky Bar at the top of the Cape Royale seems to be the place to launch your bubbly these days (see below) and Melissa Nelsen couldn’t have chosen a better spot if she tried. Her maiden fizz, Genevieve, refers to her middle name and not that 1950’s British movie involving the London to Brighton vintage road race, although I am sure a bottle or two would help all the Hooray Henrys immensely! She says that fizz is currently her passion and not her profession (she does the marketing for several exclusive Walker Bay wine estates including Niels and Penny Verburg’s lovely Luddite) but you can tell she really wants to do this full time.
And why not? This is a great first effort, a blanc de blanc made from 100% Chardonnay with the help of fizz fundi, Ross Gower. Lots of toast, biscuits, lemons and limes and a worryingly quaffable quality to it (probably helped by the many smiling waiters who kept cropping up at my elbow with full bottles). Nice nibbles, lovely views, perfect start to the day.
Read more..
Genevieve MCC launch 26th November 2009:
The launch of Genevieve MCC was held at the stunning Sky Bar ( Cape Royale Luxury Hotel, Cape Town). The assembled group of writers, wine fundis and Genevieve MCC supporters were introduced to this first time showing of Genevieve MCC.
With the combination of good food, great bubbly flowing and the interesting mix of guests, the event created quite a stir.
