Mormora: the underwater wine

On 13 June 2023, 1,011 bottles of Mormora Metodo Classico Pas Dosé, made from Verdeca and Maresco, were lowered into the Porto Cesareo marine reserve. The bottles were scheduled to remain for 12 months at a depth of 30 metres, protected from light and exposed to the sea’s temperature, pressure and continuous movement.

The project combines sustainability with oenological experimentation. The seabed substitutes for refrigeration, while wave movement may provide a continuous form of riddling. Cantine PaoloLeo and the Area Marina Protetta di Porto Cesareo planned to study the energy benefits, with monthly tastings tracking the wine’s evolution. Nicola Leo initiated the idea in 2018, and several years of research preceded the immersion.