Sustainability Trophy Winner 2025 – Mare Santo

This year at the Glass of Bubbly Awards 2025, the Sustainability Trophy in partnership with Slow Food UK was won by Mare Santo from Slovenia.

Mare Santo’s story begins in the hills of Slovenia and continues under the Adriatic Sea. Their wines are aged under the sea for 24 months at 20m depth in the Adriatic Sea – a calm, pressure-rich environment that softens texture and enriches complexity.

The grapes are harvested from the sunlit hills of Goriška Brda, where Mediterranean and Alpine winds shape the grapes with elegance and freshness. The grapes are hand-picked, small-batch, and crafted with care. Every bottle reflects their commitment to nature, quality, and tradition.

Why the Sea?

Slovenian winemaker Igor Tomažič revived an old custom of cooling bottles in streams. He asked himself – What if the sea could age wine? Since then, Mare Santo has evolved underwater.  The sea currents keep it alive. Minerals pass through the cork and the flavour deepens.

“It started as an idea. Now it’s a global patent.” – Global patent no. P 201900046

Each bottle of Mare Santo develops a one-of-a-kind sea patina, as it becomes naturally overgrown with seashells and other marine organisms. The result is visually distinctive and unique; no two bottles are the same, each bottle is created by nature itself. The bottles are then presented in a custom-designed gift box and come with a signed Certificate of Authenticity.

 

Treasure of the Sea Cuvée Prestige – won a Gold Medal in the Creamy Category

Glass of Bubbly Judges Tasting Notes: A rich, complex wine. Flinty notes on the nose overlaid with hints of smoke and spice. Intriguing on the palate with greengage, lemon grass and buttery croissant with layers of apple and cinnamon with a creamy nuttiness on the lingering finish.

 

Treasure of the Sea Rosé  – won a Gold Medal in the Forget Me Not Category

Glass of Bubbly Judges Tasting Notes: Savoury mushroom aromas with hazelnut and a risotto note. Full of complex flavours including forest floor, dried red berry fruits, crushed yellow roses, vanilla and tangerine zest. This is a very fruity wine with good integration and length.