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Whether you’re displaying a rare burgundy in your superyacht’s glass-encased storage cellar or serving it at your 18-person dining table, the water raises certain concerns, according to Jeremy Backman, vice president of recreational marine for Chubb Personal Risk Services. Backman, who advises clients on yacht and marine insurance, says that storing wine on the water merits the same consideration as transporting an art collection or an exotic car. Unlike larders on land, yachts are vulnerable to mechanical failure, including water damage from burst pipes, as well as the pitch of rough waves.
Plus, the demands depend on the geography—the climate required to preserve a Chateau Margaux when sailing around Sardinia is different than in Scandinavia. Backup generators are crucial, as is making sure your crew knows how to present, serve, and protect your investment bottles. “It’s better to prevent than to respond,” Backman says. “Think ahead, and have a protection and maintenance plan in place.”
The risk hasn’t prevented superyacht owners from creating bespoke wine cellars brimming with their best bottles. Here are the vessels with the most jaw-dropping displays.
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Tankoa ‘Suerte’
Image Credit: Tankoa Yachts One wall of the formal dining room aboard the 226-foot Suerte displays a backlit, floor-to-ceiling wine rack with room for 30 bottles. The opposite wall features a see-through fish tank overlooking the salon. The table, which can accommodate a dozen guests, is made of Jerusalem stone and lacquered wood detailing and situated below a grand art installation hanging from the ceiling. Form meets function across the yacht’s design: The pool’s glass bottom sits above the light-filled upper salon.
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Rosetti Yachts ‘Emocean’
Image Credit: Rosetti Yachts Sporting fuel-efficient engines and vegan furnishings, the 124-foot Emocean is a long-distance cruiser and the first explorer yacht from Rosetti Yachts. Its 150-bottle crystal wine cellar is prominently displayed along the entire starboard wall, no doubt to delight guests walking through the passageway to the 12-seat dining table in the main salon.
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Delta Marine ‘Endless Summer’
Image Credit: Delta Marine The 164-foot Endless Summer from Delta Marine features a custom-designed, climate-controlled wine cellar showcased behind a glass wall on the upper deck. The floor-to-ceiling display features soft lighting, dark wood tones, and neoprene-lined shelves angled to keep the corks moist and the bottles secure on the journey. Its location at the top of the stairwell highlights the cellar as a focal point for guests as they climb to the bridge deck.
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‘Amatasia’ (ex ‘Areti’)
Image Credit: Courtesy Winch Design Styled by Winch Design, the 278-foot Lurssen Amatasia (ex. Areti) features a formal dining room for 18 with areas to store and display rare vintages. The sweeping display faces diners on the main deck but there are other cabinets with selections of rare vintages for only the owners and their very special guests to enjoy. Amatasia also comes with a well-equipped gym, a helipad that doubles as a sun lounging area, a curved pool, and a spa and beach club with a plunge pool, a sauna and steam room, a beauty salon, and a treatment room.
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Rossinavi ‘Aurora’
Image Credit: Courtesy Rossinavi The 160-foot Rossinavi Aurora boasts a glass-clad wine cellar in the main-deck level lobby that interior designer Achille Salvagni described as the heart of the yacht. This display, which is reminiscent of a jewelry shop, uses a computer to control each bottle’s exposure to light. The yacht also features a raised lounge for sunbathers, an area to dine or sip wine alfresco, and plenty of lounges for guests to mingle. The innovative use of half decks provides guests with a view of the open sea but limit exposure when the boat is in port.
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‘Victorious’
Image Credit: Courtesy AKYachts The top deck of Akyacht’s 279-foot flagship Victorious boasts a glass-encased wine cellar and lounge, penned by London’s H2 Yacht Design studio. The cellar’s backlit shelves showcase rare bottles of whisky and cognac, while the lounge features a fireplace, a humidor, and upholstery impervious to cigar smoke. Victorious also comes with a heated swimming pool, hammam, and helipad for guests on the go.
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‘Andromeda’
Image Credit: H2 Yacht Design Oenophiles should rejoice aboard Andromeda, a 350-foot yacht with its own wine tasting room. Wine bottles wrap around the H2 Yacht Design-styled space, which can hold 30 guests. Formerly known as Ulysses, the Kleven-built yacht features six decks with 15 guest suites, a beauty salon, a two-bed massage room, and a formal, 16-person dining room table.