The term "sea wine" refers to wines that have had direct or indirect contact with the ocean. Historically, many wines travelled aboard ships over long distances and improved through the movement and maritime humidity. Today, innovative projects such as underwater wineries submerge bottles beneath the water so they can evolve in unique conditions.
The Origins of Port Wine and Its Journey by Sea
Port wine was born in the majestic Douro Valley, in northern Portugal, a region of terraced vineyards bathed in sunlight and nourished by the river. Its origins date back to the 17th century, when British merchants began to take an interest in Portuguese wines. To withstand the long sea journeys to England, brandy was added to the wine, halting its fermentation and preserving its natural sweetness.
The barrels were loaded onto ships that travelled down the Douro to the port of Vila Nova de Gaia, from where they set sail for the British Isles. During these voyages, the wine was transformed by the movement of the ship, maritime humidity and changes in temperature, giving rise to a more complex and highly prized product: Port.
What connection does Port wine have with the sea?
Port wine was born in the Douro Valley, but became famous thanks to its journeys by ship to England and other destinations. During these voyages, the wine was transformed and gained character, giving rise to what became known as vinho da roda, a wine that travelled by sea and returned with a more complex flavour.
What is vinho da roda?
Vinho da roda was a Port wine that travelled by ship to Brazil, India or other distant ports before returning to Portugal. The movement of the sea, changes in temperature and the salty breeze gave the wine distinctive nuances, highly valued by merchants and consumers of the time.
Why is wine aged beneath the sea today?
Submerging wine in the sea allows it to evolve in an environment with a stable temperature, no light, pressure that constantly changes with the tides and waves, and gentle natural movement. The Cantabrian Sea, where Bodega Crusoe Treasure is located, is a benchmark in this field thanks to its tides and cold temperatures. These conditions give the wine nuances distinct from those it would develop in a land-based winery.
What is the difference between underwater wine and traditional wine?
The underwater wine or treasure-aged wine (as we have named it at Bodega Crusoe Treasure) presents rounder aromas and sensations, with a certain mineral freshness, due to the ageing conditions beneath the water. Traditional wine evolves in barrels or bottles in land-based wineries, while sea wine, in addition to its land-based process including its time in barrels, also takes advantage of the marine ecosystem as a natural cellar. In the case of Bodega Crusoe Treasure, it has created a reef winery on the seabed with concrete and steel structures that benefit both the sea and the wine.