Wines & More

IslandLife XpBonaire
18 minutes ago
3 min read

Xp Bonaire Feature Story

In the heart of Kralendijk, Bonaire, a fresh breeze of culinary passion and wine expertise has arrived with the opening of Wines & More. Located at the Lourdes Shopping Mall at Kaya L.D. Gerharts 10 Unit 1A, this new restaurant and shop is the creation of longtime hospitality veterans Annemarie Borst and Mathieu Savelkouls. Together, they bring a wealth of international experience, a love for great food and wine, and a commitment to quality that’s already earning them loyal fans on the island.

Annemarie and Mathieu’s story is one of adventure, perseverance, and passion. After working for 16 years across Switzerland, Austria, and Germany in the hospitality industry, Mathieu eventually returned to the Netherlands. But resettling wasn’t the end goal, they had been contemplating a move to Portugal or Italy when, by chance, a wedding invitation from an old colleague led them to Bonaire.

They fell for the island instantly. "We were sitting on the plane back and had already mapped out the scenario," they recall. After a few months of planning, Annemarie moved first, while Mathieu wrapped up their affairs back home.

Starting from scratch wasn't easy. Suitable spaces were scarce, so they both initially took jobs in hospitality—working and building valuable relationships across the island. As more people asked them to cater events, a new business idea began to blossom. "It started small, at home," Annemarie explains, "but when the assignments grew larger, we knew we needed a proper kitchen." It took two years of searching, but the dream finally materialized with Wines & More, opening its doors in March 2025.

Wines & More is a down-town spot offering dine-in, takeout, and catering services. Open Monday through Friday, with the kitchen serving from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM, the restaurant is already making waves for its thoughtfully crafted dishes and excellent wines.

A Culinary and Wine Destination

Annemarie and Mathieu’s focus is on quality ingredients and authentic flavors. They import fine wines, teas, tomatoes, and cheeses, while sourcing local products whenever possible. Their menu blends international influences with island flair, featuring dishes like authentic beef Rendang, cold-smoked Wahoo salad, and local fish Kibbeling.

One standout feature? Their love of the BBQ. "Our BBQ is on six days out of seven," Mathieu laughs. Many menu highlights—like their pulled pork and satay—benefit from the smoky, slow-cooked flavors that only a grill can provide.

The menu also offers comforting daily specials, from a Thai Tom Kha Kai soup to a decadent Burrata Caprese with homemade pesto. Fresh quiches, Mediterranean-style plates, and a carefully curated list of desserts like semi-freddo and limonmisù round out the experience. Customers can also stop by after 4 PM for small bites, including a charcuterie platter, Ortiz sardines with toast, and Spanish-style shrimp.

Wines & More’s wine program is particularly special. With Annemarie’s background as a Level 3 Sommelier and Bachelor of Gastronomy, the shop features unique finds like dry Portuguese whites and rare Hungarian Tocai. The focus is always on uncovering hidden gems—“the little pearls” as they like to say.

They also offer a fine selection of Chinese teas, maintaining the same level of quality they insist on for their wines.

Life Beyond the Shop

Even outside of work, Annemarie and Mathieu’s lives are filled with adventure. Together for 18 years, they share hobbies. Annemarie first got her dive certification in Egypt 15 years ago, and is now even a dive master. She’s also involved in the island’s lionfish control programs.

Growing up near the water, Annemarie learned to skate on traditional Frisian skates, but her love of the sea eventually outweighed her love of cold weather. "I don’t like the cold," she jokes, "even though skating is in my blood."

At Wines & More, Mathieu now runs the day-to-day operations, with Annemarie helping out whenever she can around her full-time management role at Bottles. Their teamwork and passion are obvious, and customers can feel the warm welcome as soon as they step through the door.

More Than Just a Restaurant

Their slogan says it all: "We cater to your needs." Whether you're planning a catered event, grabbing lunch to go, or lingering over a plate of Rendang with a perfectly paired glass of wine, Wines & More offers a taste of genuine hospitality that reflects Annemarie and Mathieu’s global experience and island heart.

In just a few short months, Wines & More has already become a shining example of what happens when passion meets opportunity. And for Bonaire, it's just the beginning.