Expedition Logbook: Behind the Scenes of Immersion off the Coast of Ushant

At the westernmost tip of Brittany, where the English Channel crashes into the Atlantic Ocean, lies the rugged island of Ushant. Here, in the protected yet surging waters of the Bay of Stiff, Champagne Doyard-Mahé undertakes one of its most daring adventures each year. Far removed from peaceful tasting rooms, the Immersion Edition is a genuine maritime expedition guided by tides, winches, and commercial divers.

Setting sail and selecting the Bay of Stiff

The expedition begins at dawn on the harbour quay. Each bottle, sealed in thick protective wax to shield the natural cork, is packed by hand into stainless steel underwater cages. These custom-engineered metal crates resist saltwater corrosion while allowing ocean currents to flow freely through them.

The expedition vessel sails out into the Bay of Stiff. Oceanographers selected this specific coordinates: a firm rocky and sandy seabed at a depth of sixty metres, naturally sheltered from damaging Atlantic gales while enjoying the invigorating currents of the Iroise Sea.

Descending to 60 metres: the commercial divers' mission

At sixty metres down, recreational diving ends and specialized offshore diving begins. Professional commercial divers descend to inspect the seabed, verify terrain stability, and guide the cages precisely into place as surface cranes lower them through the water column.

Once settled on the sea floor, acoustic transponders record their location. Absolute silence and darkness then envelop the bottles for twelve uninterrupted months.

The retrieval: unveiling ocean-sculpted treasures

One year later, the ship returns. When the winches hoist the dripping cages out of the foam, the crew witnesses a breathtaking transformation: the sea has turned every single bottle into a living oceanic sculpture.

Colonies of acorn barnacles (Balanus crenatus) have anchored themselves to the glass and wax. Calcareous polyps and marine algae have traced intricate patterns across the surface. No two bottles are ever identical.

Careful preparation back in Vertus

Back at the Moulin d'Argensole in Vertus, the bottles undergo meticulous hand care: they are washed with soft freshwater and fine brushes, clearing just enough space to reveal the estate label while safeguarding the sea's wild, organic adornments.

Explore these numbered collector flacons on our Immersion Edition page.