Maldives (Commonwealth Union)_Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas, acclaimed as the world’s finest underwater wine cellar and restaurant, has unveiled an extraordinary new experience: the underwater-aged wine tasting. Set six meters beneath the surface of the Indian Ocean in the remarkable SEA restaurant, guests are treated to an exclusive and intimate tasting session while being immersed in the captivating presence of marine life through the restaurant’s nearly 360-degree views.
The highlight of this experience is the sampling of Dom Perignon champagne that has been aged underwater for a full year, providing a unique and exquisite taste. In 2020, the wine experts at Anantara Kihavah initiated an innovative experiment by submerging bottles of Dom Perignon 2008 vintage champagne beneath the ocean’s surface for a year-long aging process. Upon retrieval, the champagnes showcased notable flavor nuances, including hints of seaweed, minerals, and salinity, which beautifully complemented the classic characteristics of Dom Perignon, such as citrus, brioche, and nutty undertones.
Each year, a limited number of premium bottles are submerged without enclosures in Kihavah’s house reef, shielded from direct sunlight. This method expedites the wine aging process, allowing the bottles to absorb the minerals and salinity of the sea while developing stunning coral formations on them over time. To better comprehend the aging of the submerged wines, Anantara Kihavah routinely performs comparative tastings between an underwater-aged wine and a cellar-aged wine to learn about the noticeable changes in flavors and components. Alongside the Dom Perignon champagnes, the resort’s wine experts continually expand the selection by introducing a curated assortment of classic wines.
Currently, the reef houses 22 sunken champagnes and wines, including the underwater-aged Dom Perignon Brut Millesime, Épernay, France 2012, Umbria IGT ‘Cervaro della Sala’ Chardonnay, Castello della Sala 2018, Chassagne-Montrachet, Morgeot Les Fairendes VV, and Francois Jouard 2014 975. During this special wine sampling experience, oenophiles have the opportunity to savor the underwater-aged Dom Perignon while comparing its unique characteristics with those of a cellar-aged Dom Perignon champagne. The champagnes are thoughtfully paired with delectable canapés and a selection of premium cheeses, enhancing the overall sensory journey.
Located within the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the resort’s SEA restaurant transports guests into an underwater wonderland at the edge of Anantara Kihavah’s renowned house reef. The curved glass walls of the restaurant offer panoramic scenery of tropical marine life, including turtles, manta rays, and clownfish. With a collection of over 450 bottles from two dozen countries, the underwater wine cellar at SEA benefits from its subaquatic location, maintaining cooler temperatures that allow each label to gracefully mature, further enriching the dining experience.
