The process and the place
Where the sea does its work
A method, a unique site at the heart of Monaco, and operations controlled from start to finish.
Underwater maturation
Four conditions brought together by the sea
Underwater maturation has been explored for several decades. Comparative tastings show that the marine environment influences how products evolve as they mature.
As an indication: for wine, comparative tastings show that six months of underwater maturation can produce an organoleptic evolution comparable to five years of cellar ageing.
Stable temperature
Far from the swings of the open air, the temperature changes little, and slowly.
Total darkness
In the submerged compartments, no light reaches the bottles.
Natural pressure
The pressure of the water bears on every bottle, day and night.
Constant movement
The movement of the sea accompanies the product throughout its maturation.
The place
A second calling for the Monaco breakwater
- usable
- ≈ 500 m²
- bottles
- ≈ 175,000
ZEPHYR is setting up in the hollow compartments of the Monaco breakwater’s embankment, originally designed to break the energy of the waves.
Without altering their primary function, ZEPHYR gives them a second calling: that of a true underwater cellar.
An existing structure
The cellar makes use of infrastructure already in place: no construction at sea.
Maximum security
No access from the sea, secure access from land and constant camera surveillance.
Ideal conditions
Permanent darkness, stable temperature and natural renewal of the water.
Logistics from the quay
Operations are carried out directly from land: fewer nautical resources, fewer journeys.
Step by step
From project to signed bottle
01
The project
Product, protocol, duration: together, we define the framework of the maturation.
02
Preparation
The lot is prepared and registered before going to sea.
03
Immersion
From the quay, the lot is lowered into the breakwater’s submerged compartments.
04
Monitoring
Throughout the maturation, the lot is monitored and traced; its analysis bottles allow comparative tastings.
05
Recovery
The lot returns to land: each bottle receives its unique number and its immersion certificate.
