At Belleville Wine Bar, Nico Gourdon brings Provence to the Neon Line District.
Nico Gourdon was raised with hospitality. From an early age, he traveled throughout Europe with his family and was captivated by the world of fine dining, professional service, and beautiful spaces. Gourdon left his native Provence to pursue his passion, which took him by turns to Paris, the United Kingdom, and Los Angeles, working in many prestigious and well-known restaurants and hotels along the way. As his love for food, wine, and hospitality grew, he and his daughter, Estelle, decided to make the move to Reno, where Nico managed and ran the wine program at Beaujolais Bistro in Downtown Reno.
Gourdon’s passion and desire to share the lifestyle and hospitality of his native France led him to dream of his own place — a place modeled after the wine bars of Paris, where locals and visitors alike could come and enjoy approachable vintages paired with well-curated small plates. So when a location on Fifth Street in Downtown Reno, the former home of a Starbucks, became available, Gourdon toured the space and immediately envisioned a beautiful evening with the patio romantically lit and filled with people enjoying music and Champagne — enjoying the best of life. In June 2023, Gourdon signed the lease and Belleville Wine Bar was born.
He collaborated with his friend, fellow Frenchman, and celebrated restaurateur and chef Benoit Rablat to design the menu and help conceptualize the business. Rablat’s wife, Sandy Sanchez, designed the restaurant’s style and atmosphere. Rablat and Sanchez own three restaurants in Florida: La Fresa Francesa in Hialeah, Fla.; Silverlake Bistro in Miami Beach, Fla.; and Normandy Gourmandy food and wine emporium in Miami Beach, Fla.
French Connection
Belleville’s room is warm and sophisticated. Richly painted walls, gold and brass accents, elegant fixtures, and rows of glittering stemware beckon one to sit and be immersed in the relaxed energy of the space. Gourdon’s vision was centered foremost on the pairing of food and wine to help bring the Provençal lifestyle and joie de vivre to Reno, and he believes firmly that “what is most rewarding is when people are happy.”
To support this, a tightly focused French-style menu features smoked salmon, duck, and house-made tartes (try the tomato, which will feature heirloom tomatoes from Backyard Farm in Reno). Supremely fresh oysters, salted cod, and luscious bisques are served on occasion (about every two weeks). Plates are artfully presented and flavors clean and vibrant, all being matched thoughtfully to Champagnes or any of a multitude of primarily French red and white wines. Ingredients that may be unfamiliar to some (such as foie gras or salted cod) come wrapped in Gourdon family recipes and presented in such a way as to make exploring them seem less risky and a lot more fun. Generous pours and the stories behind some of the small producers of some ingredients encourage one to trust in the knowledge and expertise of Gourdon himself to help curate a “voyage of discovery,” he says.
As Belleville enters its second year, Gourdon looks forward to expanding the reach of both the menu and the wine list, including a cabernet blend bottled under his own label and made in a food-friendly, approachable style. “Belleville” in French means “beautiful town,” and in his own way, Gourdon has created an experience for Reno to both celebrate and enjoy. À votre santé!
Belleville Wine Bar
400 W. Fifth St., Ste. 101, Reno
775-622-0202 · Find Belleville Wine Bar on Facebook and Instagram
Happy hour Tues. – Sun.
