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Wilco wealth management company is supporting a one-of-a-kind project of high-altitude underwater wine aging, seeing in it a reflection of its own philosophy: real wealth is created by time and passed from one generation to the next.
On 18 July, at Lake Kari on the slope of Mount Aragats, the annual HALDE underwater wine ceremony took place, during which bottles of red wine aged for three years underwater were raised from the bottom of the high-altitude lake. Wilco Wealth Management serves as the event's general partner for the second consecutive year.
HALDE wine is aged some eight meters beneath the surface of Lake Kari, where the temperature at the bottom holds steady at 3.56 °C or below. The process cannot be rushed; it is the work of time. And the same principles, patience, compounding, and trust in time, are what underpin long-term wealth management.
Maran Winery launched HALDE in 2018 and, by its own account, became the first in the world to age wine underwater at high altitude. Bottles of dry red wine are aged for 12 to 36 months in the depths of Lake Kari, one of the country's cleanest bodies of water, in stainless steel cages, at an altitude of more than 3,185 meters above sea level. According to the winery's research, the consistently low temperature at the bottom, together with the absence of light and oxygen beneath the thick layer of water and ice, forms a rare aging environment: the wine gets softer and more complex while retaining freshness and violet hues.
"Managing wealth means working with clients whose planning horizon is measured in decades. Maran is a family winery with roots dating back to the 19th century, where mastery is passed down through the generations: a vineyard planted today will bear fruit for future generations. This aligns perfectly with Wilco's approach. Our goal is to manage capital so that it is preserved and passed on to future generations. Personally, I am fascinated by the art of winemaking, where the final result is born from the synergy of time and craftsmanship. I am delighted that we are supporting Maran for the second consecutive year," said Irina Belysheva, Chief Executive Officer at Wilco.
"HALDE is our own kind of gift to Armenia and proof that underwater wine can be born even in a mountainous country that has neither a sea nor an ocean," said Frunz Harutyunyan, head winemaker at Maran.
About Maran
Maran Winery is a family winery founded in 1992, with roots reaching back to the 19th century. The winery focuses on the indigenous grape, and has exported to France since 1995, today supplying the EU, CIS, and the USA.
About Wilco
Wilco is a wealth management company providing investment services to high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs), family offices, and corporate clients. Wilco is regulated by the Central Bank of Armenia.