Toast from the deep: Vancouver Island winery unveils ocean-aged wine

Ocean-aged wine is the latest theme at Vancouver Island as 40 Knots Vineyard and Estate Winery unveils Coastal Resonance, a sparkling wine aged underwater in the Comox Valley. The project submerges bottles beneath the waves to examine whether the marine environment can influence maturation, building on the winery’s view that the nearby coast already affects grape ripening through cooler temperatures, humidity, and salt-laden air. Owners Brenda Hetman-Craig and Layne Craig say the idea also drew inspiration from historic underwater champagne recoveries dating to the Titanic era, suggesting time and pressure can leave a distinct mark when bottles are properly sealed. To execute the trial, the winery partnered with Vancouver Island shellfish firm Manatee Holdings Inc., using vessels, infrastructure, and a dive team to deploy and retrieve specially designed cages. Bottles were submerged after about three years in a traditional cellar.