Tasting ‘Wines of the Sea’ at Wally’s Santa Monica

Wally’s Fine Wines and Gourmet Foods has been in Southern California since 1968. Every Saturday they offer a Wine with Cheese + Charcuterie Tasting from 2 to 4 p.m., at their Santa Monica location.

Every Saturday. Photo Jill Weinlein

Last Saturday we went to Wally’s to learn about Wine of the Sea that have been specially aged underwater in the Adriatic Sea. This not only brings optimal taste, but creates the coolest wine bottles displaying remnants of coral and sea life.

Wine of the Sea. Photo Jill Weinlein

Zarko from Wine of the Sea engaged with wine aficionados at Wally’s to share his knowledge about the varietals and aging process.

Wine of the Sea submerged into the water. Photo Jill Weinlein

He shared how each bottle has a special composite cork and then is sealed with two layers of wax to ensure that nothing enters the bottle when it is submerged into the Adriatic near Croatia.

What gives the wine its name is when the bottles of wine are placed 100-feet below the water’s surface. These conditions are nature’s greatest wine cellar. At these depths, the temperature remains consistently cool. There is zero light from the sun and tremendous pressure that intensifies and accelerates the aging process. Waves and movement under the sea keep the bottles in motion, forcing molecular breakdown for a constant smoothing of the wine.

Each bottle spends a minimum of one year under water, depending on what variety of wine is submerged. Some bottles are left to age for as many as two years.

Tasting #1 Wine of the Sea. Photo by Jill Weinlein

Zarko offered the first taste of 2018 Wine of the Sea (Castelnovo Giancarlo) Franciacorta Extra Brut ($215), a sparkling wine that is in a 750 ml bottle. Sourced from 100% Chardonnay, this bubbly Franciacorta starts off with elegant flavors of butter and almonds. As it opens up, aromas of white flowers and peaches emerge on the nose.

Zarko giving a guest a taste of

The complex aromas and refreshing acidity result in an outstanding, long-lasting finish. Alluring citrus aromas are intertwined with flavors of brioche, vanilla, and cumin with a delightful green apple tart finish. This bottle was aged for up to 30 months to provide a sophisticated and fun wine to drink with an alcohol of 12.5%.

Cheese and Wine of the Sea are fine. Photo Jill Weinlein

Fascinating Wine of the Sea bottle. Photo Jill Weinlein

This careful selection of ripened grapes are left to dry for two months to intensify the flavor. The wine matures for one year in lightly toasted barrels. The oak is perfectly balanced to produce exotic fruit aromas and enticing spicy and nutty notes. There is a hint of vanilla with traces of banana and pineapple offering a superb balance with 14% alcohol. This wine went well with a table of charcuteries and slices of bread.

Light bites at Wally’s. Photo Jill Weinlein

Sipping a glass of 2016 Wine of the Sea (Erdevik) ‘Deux Mers’ Red Blend, Serbia ($175) we learned it’s a beautiful blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Merlot. Then it is aged for 22 months under the sea. Notes of dark cherry and blackcurrant, plus hints of black pepper and tobacco provide a delicious, long lasting tart finish. Deux Mers is a beautiful blend of red wines with an alcohol of 14.5%.

Wine of the Sea. Photo by Jill Weinlein

 

A pour of 2017 Wine of the Sea (Ocone) ‘Apollo’ Aglianico del Taburno ($180) is another red wine that is harvested from grapes growing on the volcanic hillsides near the town of Ponte in Italy. Grapes are grown organically and hand-picked for the most clean and precise expression of Aglianico del Taburno.

 

Wine of the Sea. Photo Jill Weinlein

Using indigenous yeasts and briefly aged in wood, this ensures the bouquet displays aromas of cherries and pepper, layered with spices, and black tea. It’s a full-bodied and dry wine with an alcohol of 13.5%. It’s an ideal for drinking and keeping in a cool cellar.

 

Wine of the Sea. Photo by Jill Weinlein

 

The last wine tasting was a 2018 Wine of the Sea (Villa Canestrari) Amarone della Valpolicella ($215). This gentle giant red is made using the passito method. The grapes are dried after picking, concentrating the flavors and resulting in a big and dense, off-dry red wine with complex, jammy aromas. Flavors include cooked plums and red fruit, earthy mushroom aromas, and generous yet polished tannins. This red blend of Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara is an example of why this has been one of the flagship Italian red wines with an alcohol of 15%.

 

Wally’s is offering wine tasting opportunities every Saturday for $35 per person from 2 to 4 p.m. Multiple wine tastings and light bites are offered for a festive culinary experience.