Dec 24: At the first-ever underwater wine ageing Conference organised by the Cruso Treasure Winery in Itsasmuseum in Bilbao, delegates discussed the process of ageing wine under water for centuries inadvertently in sunken ships, developing a special character, paving way for experimentation with planned submerging of wine in sea, and discussed the challenges today and voiced concerns about wineries copying the style to benefit from the growing interest in this niche
More than 50 delegates including experts, enologists and winemakers attended the Underwater Wine Congress at Itsasmuseum (formerly known as Ría de Bilbao Maritime Museum) held at the museum’s naval history centre, on 12 and 13 December. The 2-day conference was organised by Crusoe Treasure winery which began production 10 years ago. It was led by expert oenologist Antonio Palacio of Crusoe Treasure.
According to a report in Decanter, the proponents of underwater ageing, including some winemakers and sommeliers, believe that the unique nature of wine aged underwater are real and include acceleration of the ageing process, thus yielding a smoother and more complex wines in less time.
Marilena Bonilla, of Protos, and Fernando Ballesteros, of Bodegas Aragonesas, both winemakers shared their stories of tasting that converted them into believers of the ageing process under water. ‘I have to admit I was a bit sceptical 
before trying wine stored underwater,’ said Bonilla. ‘But I was really excited by how they had evolved. It was as if they had been in the bottle another year, with a certain maturity and roundness.’
Of course making wine with this process is more expensive and difficult when done correctly, according to the delegates. There was also concern that copycat wineries threaten to undermine the legitimacy of those that produce wine from their own vineyards with permits for undersea operations and who have a detailed control of conditions and sourcing.
For earlier related Articles in delWine, Visit:
WBWE Asia: Visiting Golden Age Winery in Penglai China with Sea Ageing
Drappier to Release the Submarine Champagne
Edivo Vina: Latest Underwater Cellar in Croatia
Ervideira: Ageing Wine underwater in Alentejo in Portugal
Cellaring Wines Underwater French Style
Subhash Arora
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