bon raisin [bɔ̃ ʁɛzɛ̃] [pronounced ray-zan without actually finishing the n]
nm good grape; a basic necessity that, when combined with a talented wine maker, can result in the production of great wine without the need for chemical intervention
Bon Raisin Wines brings a selection of artisanal wines from conscientious, small batch and often undiscovered wine makers to the US. Our winemakers are proving that it’s possible, with responsible farming practices, patience, and a helping hand from Mother Nature, to produce great wines using simple methods that were employed way-back-when but that sadly fell by the wayside.
They are producing what some may refer to as vin naturel but for the layman that simply means wine that’s been made with nothing added, nothing taken away.
Christopher Nelmes is based in Paris. After years working in natural wine distribution with restaurants and specialized wine shops in Paris, he is now constantly traveling through wine country looking for undiscovered gems and is well known in the wine competition circuit in France where blind tasting is his talent.
Our consultant is Restaurateur, Mark Firth. After cutting his teeth at Odeon and Balthazar in the 90’s, he owned and operated several acclaimed restaurants in Brooklyn including Diner and Marlow & Sons. He currently owns Prairie Whale in Great Barrington, MA.
Mark is revered in restaurant circles for being a voice for the local food revolution early on. Inspired years ago by the documentary, “Mondovino” and finding himself in the Chelsea Hotel at the launch of Alice Feiring’s book, “The Battle for Wine and Love”, Mark has ever since been a supporter of the natural wine movement and continues to profess the merits of clean eating and drinking…(in moderation of course).
After many late nights and empty bottles of funky, rock n roll wines at their father-in-law’s chalet in Chamonix, Chris and Mark began plotting to find a way to bring these wines to the states to share them with like minded oenophiles. The initial process was laborious but now aided and abetted by Fruit of the Vines in Long Island City, they are ready to bring you the fruits of their long and arduous research.
