Grape expectations
What could be better in life than enjoying a glass of exceptional wine on board a superyacht, whether you prefer a pretty-in-pink Provence rosé or the finest of fizz? Yet wine at sea presents a number of logistical problems. How easy is it to get it on to the boat and where to store it? Will it remain in the best of conditions on board, just as it would in a decent cellar or wine fridge at home, and what makes a perfect state-of-the-art cellar?
“Someone sacrificing space on board for something to drink will want to give that wine a huge amount of attention. Many owners today decide to make choosing and pouring it part of the whole superyacht experience”
Owners have always been serious about wine, say top merchants like Nick Baker, founder of London’s The Finest Bubble, which specializes in Champagne and other premium sparklers. The company gets requests to supply superyachts directly and through agents and wine companies based near the boats. “I often taste with owners,” he says, “and although they know their stuff, they usually have a lot of sensible questions to ask. They like to serve something to their guests that they know about, even to display a bit of showmanship.”
The good news is technology now allows owners to keep their wine in superb condition on board,
