Tenuta Del Paguro

Homarus

Italy, Emilia Romagna

2021

Hailing from the Ravenna IGP in Emilia Romagna, this merlot has undergoes a 12 month period of ocean ageing, having been plunged 30 metres below sea level within the Paguro reef, where its ageing was influenced by the sea's currents, pressure and temperature to create a plush merlot layered with red and black berry fruit with a saline edge. Delightful with spaghetti bolognese.

Tenuta del Paguro is one of Italy's most unconventional wine projects, ageing wines underwater in the Adriatic at the site of a submerged 1960s gas platform. The idea emerged from the belief that the constant pressure, low temperature and absence of light create ideal cellaring conditions.

Homarus 2021 reflects this philosophy, beginning with carefully selected coastal‑influenced vineyards in Emilia-Romagna. After fermentation in stainless steel to preserve purity, the wine is sealed in reinforced bottles and lowered 25–30 metres below the surface, where gentle currents and stable conditions promote slow, harmonious evolution.

The result is a wine with enhanced texture and subtle salinity, shaped by both terroir and the sea. Tenuta del Paguro has gained international attention for merging tradition with innovation, crafting wines that tell a story not only of land, but of the ocean's unique role in maturation.

Tasting
NOTES

This merlot from Emilia Romagna offers all the richness and plush fruit you'd expect from the variety. On the nose is an abundance of layered black and red berry fruit: cassis, blackcurrant, plum, wild strawberries and red currents, which share a glass with notes of sea salt, dark chocolate and espresso. The texture on the palate is smooth and velvety, with sweet spice flavours coming through from the oak. The finish is long and saline.

Food
PAIRINGS

This plush Italian merlot would make a great partner for spaghetti bolognese, a grilled chicken breast with a morel sauce, or hare à la royale if you're feeling fancy.