Wouldn’t it be great if they put enough wine in a bottle for two people?
A good bottle of wine with good company – is there anything better? Taking life one sip at a time as you right the worlds wrongs. If that sounds like your cup of tea then you’ll love the sound of Bunch Wine Bar – the new independent and natural wine bar that has graced Berry Street for over a year now. They say one glass of wine a day is good for you but they never tell you how many times to fill it. We sat down with the couple behind it all. Over a glass of wine, of course…
Hello! Tell us about yourself, how did you get into the world of wine?
Certainly can. My name is Bobby Fishel and I’ve been in the wine industry a while, cut my teeth at R&H in Liverpool before moving to London to manage wine lists & wine programmes down there after doing my WSET education. I also run a wine imports company (Gudfish Ltd) importing wine & selling it to restaurants, bars & shops. So I’ve travelled round the world a fair bit tasting & developing relationships with producers. My partner in the business is also my girlfriend of 6 years Lara Hendrickse, who actually worked as a barrister but she quit her job so we can go on this journey together.
What is natural wine and why the passion for it?
Our passion is for natural wines, that is, wines made on a small production by winemakers who don’t use synthetic chemicals in the vineyard or in the winery. Wine is made only from grapes which is something that you don’t see much of in the commercial wine industry unfortunately where all sorts of stuff (over 200 legal additives) is used to make wine from animal products to acids, colours and sugars.
There are definitely health benefits to this with the lack of chemical intervention (they’re also all accidentally vegan friendly too) and by drinking natural wine you’re supporting genuine artisans (much like supporting an independent business over a large corporation). But the most important thing for us is that it tastes great- I’d compare natural wine to cloudy apple juice or unpasteurised cheese. A more intense, characterful & fun version of the bland supermarket shelf product.
What can people expect when they come down?
Bottles are on the walls for people to browse and choose to drink in or take home. We also have a large selection by the glass to taste & Lara and I are there to recommend wines and get geeky with those who are interested and just pour a great glass for those who aren’t.
Our inspiration comes from small informal wine bars & cafes across Europe that we love to drink in- particularly Paris. Delicious wine without any stuffiness or snobbery that’s really chilled out. We also run regular tastings and wine classes and have a basement cellar for parties & private events.
Is there cheese?
You betcha!
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Address: 50 Berry Street, L1 4JQ