'Elixsea' Underwater Winery
Premium wines aged under the sea
The first ‘Producer focus’ for the North East Tasting Club monthly newsletter is the exceptional ‘Elixsea’ winery.
I was lucky to meet the team alongside Siren Samphora, the UK importers of this beautiful Spanish wine at the London Wine Fair. I definitely lingered for the longest time at their stand, tasting the full range and can say without doubt they were the highlight for me.
So, what set them apart from the thousands of wines at the fair? Well, firstly they age wines under the sea which adds a unique character that can only be achieved in these conditions. Temperate climates alongside pressure and constant movement that agitates the particles of the wine. All of these factors are studied to ensure the best possible outcome for each wine and that the end result is a superior version of the original wine.
Secondly, the wine to begin with is excellent quality before the underwater ageing process. The passion for creating fine wines in this way is found in husband and wife team MARIONA ALABAU and GERGŐ BORBÉLY. Mariona studied for an environmental degree with a Master in Biodiversity. Gergo, born to a family of winemakers, it's definitely in the blood. He studied for his diploma in wine and spirits after growing up on the family winery. They are both also diving instructors and are incredibly passionate about sea life, ecology and preservation. They actually met under the sea whilst diving which I think is quite poetic.
The mini winery under the sea acts as an artificial reef, providing shelter for marine life and it has become something of an ecosystem. Stories of tiny octopus popping out from the cages as well as other sea life have provided an opportunity to study the environment and ensure the preservation of this newfound life. They also offer the opportunity to dive the site as well as offering wine tasting boat trips off the coast of the Costa Brava and based out of Barcelona.
It's hard not to get swept up in this excitement and to be honest at first I thought maybe it was just a gimmick, that's until I tasted the wines.
The first was a Cava - I'm a fan of Cava anyway but tend to only drink it when in Spain as I haven't come across many that are as good in the UK. It was a combination of citrus, creamy toast and a mineral salinity that was unexpected. I was transported to the med eating Oyster’s in the sun with salty sea spray wafting up my nostrils, living my best life.
I then tried the white blend ‘Horizon’ an Emporda D.O, which was super interesting as it was made using white grenache, red grenache and Macabeo grapes. Aged for 2 months in oak barrels before being bottled and submerged to 14 metres depth for 6 months. It was elegant, had richness of texture, complexity and character. Delicate citrus interlaced with salinity, white peach and coastline florals. Again, I imagined drinking it with some delicious Halibut on a terrace overlooking the sea with salty sea air and sun kissed skin………….ahhh bliss. I guess I'll have to keep dreaming and be ok with Tynemouth Longsands and king Edward's Bay minus the sun kissed skin but at least we have Riley's Fish Shack for delicious Halibut!
Next onto ‘Legasea’ a Priorat DOC. This region is known for being a premium wine producing DOC, so I was already expecting something great. The classic Grenache and Carignan blend with added Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. It took a moment to open up but as it did it just kept delivering more with each sip. Intense yet subtle, flavours of blackberries and red fruits integrated with hints of oak and lifted with spice, a mineral edge and super soft tannins. Oak aged for 12 months before spending 6 months at 26 metres depth in bottle.
I'm really interested to see more from Elixsea after being shown some ongoing experiments and projects they currently have. Innovation, ecological conservation and fine wine created from generational knowledge is a rare combination, keep your eyes peeled for more from these guys.
If you are looking for a gift or celebrating a special occasion then I definitely recommend, as let's be honest it's not the sort of wine you can drink everyday (unless you've got a fat wallet!). You can buy directly from sirensamphora.com, give them a like and follow the journey on socials while you are at it!
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