Escaramujo Wines is a fascinating submarine winery (bodega submarino), the only one in Spain, and the first in the country to hold a license for ageing wines underwater. Based in Estepona, they offer wine tasting boating excursions and have a wide selection of meticulously chosen red, white and sparkling wines to discover.
Article by Sophie Gatward-Wicks
Set in perfect oenological conditions, their innovative wine ageing process takes place amid a thriving marine ecosystem near the Strait of Gibraltar in the Alboran Sea, where the Mediterranean and Atlantic currents intertwine. This particular location was chosen specifically for its currents, as it creates the ideal environment necessary for the proper storage of wines.
The winery and the dancing sea
Off the shores of the Costa del Sol, two superimposed sea currents create a unique balance between two vast bodies of water. The Mediterranean underwater current, which is saltier and denser, flows toward the Atlantic along the seabed. As it moves, it drags a large amount of plankton and cools significantly due to the depth. Meanwhile, the Atlantic surface current, with lower salinity and density, flows into the Mediterranean, riding on top of the outgoing waters.
As the Mediterranean current attempts to spill into the Atlantic, it encounters the Strait of Gibraltar’s underwater barrier. This forces the current to rise and mix with the incoming Atlantic waters, creating a whirlpool of cold, nutrient-rich water known as upwelling. This process plays a crucial role in maintaining thermal stability, where underwater temperatures range between 12 and 17 degrees year-round, with only gradual fluctuations.
Biodynamic bottles
Wines are meticulously chosen from a variety of regions in Spain, and then immersed at depths of 20-30 metres under the sea in a maritime concession that also supports the cultivation of oysters and scallops. For several months, the bottles are gently rocked, rolled and shimmied by the currents, as they mature on the inside and explode with life on the outside. The bottles transform into living works of art, becoming colonised by rose hips, corals, sponges, macrophyte algae, bivalves and more, which attach themselves to the glass bottles. Meanwhile, on the sea bed close by, multitudes of different starfish, crabs, shrimp and even octopus multiply, protected by the breeding traps.
Innovative sustainability
Sustainability is a key element of Escaramujo Wine’s underwater ageing process. By harnessing the natural conditions of the sea, with its constant temperature, gentle currents, and mineral-rich environment, they significantly reduce the need for artificial cooling or intensive energy consumption that conventional ageing facilities require. Moreover, the underwater environment encourages biodiversity by transforming their bottles into mini marine habitats.
Discover wine tasting on the high seas
Not only do Escaramujo Wines age their wine at sea, they also offer a unique wine tasting experience, where you can enjoy a ride on a catamaran, sample local oysters, and drink the amazing Underwater Wine whilst learning all about their passion for wine and sea from their expert team. Due to the location, it’s quite common to see dolphins, even whales, and in the warmer months you can cool off with a refreshing swim!
Web Contact: Escaramujo Wines
Tel: (+34) 605 336 469
Email: rosehipwines@gmail.com
Address: El Velerín 65, 29680, Estepona (Málaga)
