Three-star sommelier goes Under water

Jefferson Goldring, Head Sommelier at Oslo's three-star restaurant Maaemo, has left for a new Wine Director-gig, but it's not at any regular Michelin star restaurant. It is at a new restaurant right now being built partially under water in southern Norway, called Under.

In one of the southernmost points of Norway and scarcely populated area, the seats at this very ambitious project is selling out quickly. The rough concrete building formed as a rectangular periscope is half sunken into the ocean and resting at the sea bottom five meters below the sea surface.

Congratulations on your new job, Jefferson, a very unique venue, what can you tell us about the place?
”Thanks, Under is an ambitious fine-dining establishment, opening up in April. The focus will be to highlight the wonderful resources of our area, especially seafood, and the variances in seasonal produce,” Jefferson Goldring tells Star Wine List.

What are your plans for the wine programme at Under?
”The wine programme at Under will definitely be focusing on sustainable producers that through their wine show respect to their land. There will naturally be a careful selection of grower champagne, Riesling, Burgundy and the Loire to support the food of our chef, Nicolai Ellitsgaard. A new thing for me will also be our inclusion of cigar service which I am really looking forward to developing,”

Under is designed by the firm Snøhetta, famous for the Opera House in Oslo and the library in Egypt's Alexandria. At Under, a panorama to the rich marine life will be the backdrop.

Lastly, was it hard to leave the famous Maaemo?
”It was a hard decision to leave Maaemo after so long; I was very thankful for my time there and all the support shown. However Under felt like a great next step and especially exciting to start something up from the ground.”

At Maaemo, Michal Gielas has taken over as Wine Director.

By Linn Johnsen and Krister Bengtsson