COOS BAY, Ore. — A wine company once mired in legal troubles in California has relocated to Oregon’s south coast, aiming to restart operations under a new name and regulatory environment.
Ocean Fathoms, known for its unconventional method of aging wine on the ocean floor, has moved its headquarters to Coos Bay after facing criminal charges in California. The company drew scrutiny from authorities in Santa Barbara County for operating without proper permits and licenses.
“Basically, every aspect of that business was either operating illegally or without the permits they claimed they had,” said Santa Barbara County District Attorney John Savrnoch in a statement to KGW.
Despite past issues, the company is moving forward under a new identity—Neptune’s Vault—and has submitted permit applications in Oregon. CEO Chris Cuvelier acknowledged missteps by the company’s founders but emphasized that the business has restructured and is working to comply fully with local regulations.
“We’ve appreciated Coos Bay, and a lot of the local agencies have welcomed us with open arms,” Cuvelier said. “We definitely moved out of California because of the rules and regulations and their unwillingness to work with us in a productive, pro-business way.”
Ocean Fathoms’ method involves submerging cages filled with wine bottles into the ocean, allowing the natural environment to aid in the aging process. Promotional materials depict barnacle-covered bottles retrieved after months underwater. Cuvelier claims that factors such as cold temperatures, constant motion, absence of light, and galvanic currents accelerate aging and improve flavor.
He also noted that the marine-encrusted bottles have become sought-after collector items. “It’s not just a gimmick,” Cuvelier said. “There really is a process here with our patent. It does improve the quality of the wine, and you end up with these beautiful bottles we call ‘one of one.’”
However, some officials remain skeptical. Savrnoch questioned why consumers would spend hundreds of dollars on wine aged in a way that may disrupt marine life.
In Oregon, the company has found both support and caution. State Sen. David Brock Smith of Port Orford acknowledged the company’s controversial history but supports its presence in Coos Bay, citing economic potential in a region long challenged by poverty.
“In Coos Bay, we have seen generations of poverty,” Brock Smith said. “Any type of economic development—especially something as unique as Ocean Fathoms—that brings business and industry is welcome.”
Mayor Joe Benetti also expressed support but noted concerns from residents about environmental impact. “I’m confident in the agencies we have. They’ll do the research and the due diligence,” he said. “It’s prudent we go through that process to make sure things are done properly.”
Cuvelier stated the company is committed to environmental responsibility and is still awaiting approval from various federal and state agencies to submerge up to 45 cases of wine near the South Slough, outside Coos Bay.
“For us, it’s a four-by-four-by-four-foot metal cage—like a big crab trap filled with wine,” he explained. “But many agencies are treating us like a major oil or wind energy project, so the permitting process has been extensive.”
Meanwhile, Neptune’s Vault is collaborating with Oregon researchers to study how oceanic conditions affect the chemical properties of wine and spirits. According to Cuvelier, while the precise science behind the process remains unclear, the results are promising.
“We are very transparent that we don’t know exactly why it works,” he said. “But it does, and now it’s our job to lead the category by backing it with science.”
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