El Bonhomme, A Name Destined to Travel Far
HER STORY
Nathalie Bonhomme may have an unusual name, but it is her life story that makes her truly unique.
Bitten by the travel bug, she left Quebec in her early 20s, hoping to find new experiences and wider horizons. She began her journey in London, as a student taking part in a Commonwealth program. Several years later, ready to put down some roots and start a family with her husband, Nathalie finally settled down for good in Spain. Today, it is in Altea, in the province of Alicante on the Mediterranean coast, that Nathalie runs her winery.
Through all her years spent exploring the world, discovering wine and acquiring experience in winemaking, the Quebec native had come to cherish a dream, after an idea came to her one evening as she sat working at her computer: to create her own line of wines. Little by little, with the help of her old friend Rafael Cambra, a passionate wine expert, Nathalie brought her project to fruition. In 2007, she produced the very first bottle of Bonhomme wine. For Nathalie, it was a magical moment: the dream for which she has worked so hard was finally coming true.
Today, the quality of Bonhomme wines has earned them a solid reputation. Featuring an appealing label with an award-winning design, this wine is recommended by many Quebec experts. Sommelier Philippe Lapeyrie, a radio and television columnist, describes it as “a colourful, complex, highly drinkable red with hints of spice [...] $20 well spent”.
Some might have thought Nathalie would be satisfied with the success of her wines and her quiet life by the seaside, fulfilled now that her project has come to life. But with a thirst for new discoveries and an adventurous spirit such as hers, how could this be? Nathalie Bonhomme is now tackling the olive oil market in a new quest to share the joie de vivre of Spain’s Mediterranean coast with her fellow Quebecers.
Since there are many similarities between winemaking and olive oil production, Nathalie already enjoys a fair advantage. Most of all, she wants to produce a quality oil that will bring all the flavours and health benefits of Mediterranean cuisine to our side of the Atlantic. Always in keeping with the values of happiness and sharing at the heart of her winemaking business, Nathalie is expanding her product offering with El Bonhomme olive oil.
The olives used to produce El Bonhomme oil are sourced in Campos de Hellin, 550 m above sea level, providing an ideal climate for olive growing. The pressing takes place in Acecasa, at an oil mill called almazara in Spanish. Built in 1995, this almazara is at the heart of a 1,000 hectare growing area comprising over a million olive trees of the Arbequina, Benizal, Arbosana and Picual varieties. The olives from these trees, aged between 5 and 20 years, yield a superior quality oil.
Featuring a deep golden colour with glints of pistachio green, El Bonhomme olive oil has an elegant, harmonious bouquet characterized by almond notes and hints of thyme, oregano and juniper, combined with the traditional aromas of the Mediterranean: citrus, flowers and green tomatoes. It is smooth on the palate, with an intense taste and a fresh finish.
The delicious, sun-kissed wines and olive oil from El Bonhomme are an invitation to enjoy life and take advantage of a moment of happiness. Concepts such as travel, sensations, laughter, sharing and lust for life all feed into the experience of the product line. Throughout the years, from project to project, this philosophy has driven Nathalie Bonhomme to pursue her dreams. It is now a true pleasure for us to tell her story and to bring to Quebec’s tables this superb quality oil fragrant with the tastes of the Mediterranean.
