When wine comes into contact with air, it undergoes a natural process called oxidation. This process softens the harsh edges of the wine and helps develop its flavors. However, too much oxygen exposure can lead to wine spoilage. Aging wine underwater with Newport Cellar helps control the amount of oxygen the wine interacts with, ensuring a gradual and balanced oxidation process, resulting in smoother and more refined flavors without the risk of over-oxidation.

Tannins, which are compounds found in grape skins, seeds, and stems, can make wine taste bitter or astringent when it's young. Over time, these tannins can combine with other molecules in the wine, forming larger molecules through a process called polymerization. This makes the tannins smoother and less aggressive, resulting in a more pleasant mouthfeel. Aging wine in the ocean with Newport Cellar provides a consistent and gentle environment for this process to occur, allowing the tannins to integrate seamlessly and produce a smoother and more enjoyable wine.

Esters are compounds that give wine its fruity and floral aromas. During aging, acids and alcohol in the wine react to form esters, enhancing its aroma complexity. Aging wine underwater with Newport Cellar provides a stable and cool environment, allowing for a slow and gradual esterification process. This extended aging period allows the wine to develop rich and complex aromas, resulting in a more aromatic and enjoyable wine.​

Microorganisms like yeast and bacteria present in the wine can continue to ferment residual sugars and produce additional flavor compounds during aging. While submerged underwater, Newport Cellar's aging process exposes the wine to minimal microbial activity, ensuring a clean and stable aging environment. This helps preserve the wine's integrity while allowing for subtle flavor development over time.

During aging, wine can interact with materials such as oak barrels or metal containers, absorbing flavor compounds from these materials. The gentle rocking motion of the ocean and the controlled environment provided by Newport Cellar's underwater aging process enhance this extraction, resulting in a more pronounced and complex flavor profile in the wine.

Sediment, consisting of particles like grape skins and yeast residues, can settle at the bottom of the bottle or barrel during aging. Aging wine underwater with Newport Cellar promotes natural settling and clarification, resulting in visually clear wines without the need for filtration or fining agents.