Ocean Fathoms, now rebranded as Neptune’s Vault, has moved its headquarters to Coos Bay on Oregon’s southern coast. The company, which describes the ocean as “nature’s perfect wine cellar,” came under scrutiny for operating without proper permits during its time in Santa Barbara. Previously, the wine company was praised for its unconventional technique of aging bottles on the ocean floor. Soon it came under fire with California regulators and faced criminal charges.
Highlights
- Ocean Fathoms has now rebranded as Neptune’s Vault and moved operations to Oregon’s southern coast.
- Previously, the company faced backlash from environmentalists and California regulators, who pressed criminal charges.
- Neptune’s Vault is yet to receive their permits in Oregon; meanwhile, they are working on research, claiming transparency and legitimacy.
Over 2000 Bottles of Ocean Fathoms’ ‘Unique Wines’ Discarded; Brand Faces Criminal Charges
Authorities in California allege that nearly every part of the company’s operations was unauthorized. Santa Barbara County District Attorney John Savrnoch charged the company’s founders with misdemeanors and oversaw the disposal of approximately 2,000 bottles of wine that had been illegally submerged off the California coast.
“Basically, every aspect of that business was either operating illegally or without the permits they claimed they had,” Savrnoch said.
Ocean Fathoms’ CEO Chris Cuvelier acknowledged the mistakes made under the company’s previous leadership but said the new venture in Oregon marks a new chapter for the brand. “We’ve appreciated Coos Bay, and a lot of the local agencies have welcomed us with open arms,” Cuvelier said. “But we definitely moved out of California just because of the rules and regulations and them really not willing to work with us.”
The company showcases wine bottles recovered from the seafloor, covered in barnacles and marine growth in their promotional material. Cuvelier claims that the process accelerates aging and enhances flavor through exposure to cold water, ocean currents, and lack of light. He also markets the barnacle-encrusted bottles as one-of-a-kind collectibles.
Critics, however, remain skeptical. “Why would someone pay hundreds of dollars for a bottle of wine that disrupts sea life?” Savrnoch said.
Despite questions about the environmental impact of submerging cages of wine, the company has found support among local leaders in Oregon. State Sen. David Brock Smith called the business “a unique opportunity” for economic development in a region long affected by poverty. Coos Bay Mayor Joe Benetti echoed that sentiment but emphasized the importance of a careful permitting process.
The company is still awaiting state and federal approval to sink up to 45 cases of wine near the South Slough Estuarine Reserve. Cuvelier compared the cages to oversized crab traps and noted that regulators are treating the project with the same seriousness as offshore drilling operations.
As they wait, Neptune’s Vault is partnering with researchers in Oregon to better understand why their aging process works, claiming transparency and a commitment to environmental responsibility as they try to legitimize their operations.
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Hard to believe that Oregon is less environmentally concerned than California which belies the idea that they are leaving CA for more friendly business climates. These are just flim-flam folks who want to sell you BS. Probably should also be dealing in bit-coin.
I started a DEFI company that submerges cryptocurrencies in the ocean which harvests precious metals from the ambient environment, increasing the value of any crypto by up to 60% per year, it’s really cool because the digital marine flora and fauna flock to the site and attach to the crypto metal deposits leaving their beautiful natural physical impressions in gold, platinum, nickel, and copium.
The financial returns are insane–we are currently taking small checks from individual investors for a series A round–guaranteed profit.
Another innovative business leaves California. It moves to Oregon of all places. Talk about over regulation and stupidity folks you have it all here. How can sinking cages of wine disrupt ocean life any more than creating artificial reefs by sinking ships or dumping concrete barriers into the ocean? I guess the authorities were afraid of a wine blow out and drunken fish.
Granted the operators were kinda of clueless also, but the way they were dealt with is ridiculous. Cheers
Everything about it is stupid. Absolutely everything–from the ridiculous manufactured and unnecessary complexity of submerging bottles to begin with, which doubtless adds zero quality to the wine, to the haphazard and incompetent way the founders conducted themselves to the County’s typical inflexible and simplistic thinking.
“Innovative”. Nah. Gimmick, sure.
SALSA – while I do think it’s a pretty cool idea, I think the concern is in removing the wine once sea life has made it a habitat. Artificial reefs aren’t routinely brought back up out of the water.
good point.
I’ve seen boats pulled out of the water & with the hull being cleaned of all the sea life attached. I doubt they are required to put it back in the ocean. It seems a bit petty without better explanation of why the permits are not attainable.
salsa is yet another poster boy for the Dunning-Kruger effect.