The Hidden Sea
The Hidden Sea is a premium wine producer from South Australia's Limestone Coast whose DTC and wholesale sales fund the removal of 10 ocean plastic bottles per bottle sold via its 4ocean partnership, serving eco-conscious consumers while expanding into US wholesale through an ambassador-investor model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What The Hidden Sea does
The Hidden Sea is a privately held premium wine company operating under the legal entity Limestone Coast Wines Pty Ltd, headquartered in Coonawarra in South Australia's Limestone Coast wine region. Founded in 2013 by CEO Richie Vandenberg (a fourth-generation grape grower and former Australian Football League player) and CMO Justin Moran, the company produces a varietal portfolio including reds (Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Red Blend, GSM), whites (Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay), Rosé, and sparkling wines (Spritz Pinot Grigio, Blanc de Blancs). The US market is led by USA CEO David Andrews, with winemaking handled by Stephen Tierney (Bachelor of Oenology, University of Adelaide, 2007). Headcount is reported at 1-10 employees.
The company's central technology and brand differentiator is its ocean plastic removal program: for every bottle of wine sold, the company funds the removal of 10 plastic bottles from the ocean through a flagship partnership with 4ocean (a Certified B Corp and Public Benefit Corporation). Each bottle carries a QR code linking to GPS-tagged, photo-logged cleanup data independently audited by GreenCircle Certified. A secondary partnership with Denmark-based ReSea Project extends cleanup operations to Jakarta, Indonesia. Bottles use Forest Film labels derived from sustainably managed forest residues, certified by ISCC PLUS, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 66% versus conventional labels. The company reports removing over 36 million plastic bottles from the ocean since the program's launch in July 2020.
Revenue is generated primarily through direct-to-consumer e-commerce sales at thehiddensea.com, with additional wholesale and retail distribution through partner allies such as Wildlife Coast Cruises (onboard stocking in Victoria, Australia) and an expanding US wholesale push. The company is expanding into the US market through The Hidden Sea USA, Inc., a regional subsidiary backed by an ambassador-investor network of more than 20 celebrity, athlete, and sustainability figures who double as brand promoters and equity holders. A US investment offering was closed in April 2024 to fund national expansion. Pricing is not publicly disclosed on the website, and no revenue figures have been released.
The Hidden Sea firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Hidden Sea
- Legal name
- Limestone Coast Wines Pty Ltd
- Website
- https://thehiddensea.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Hidden Sea is a premium wine producer from South Australia's Limestone Coast whose DTC and wholesale sales fund the removal of 10 ocean plastic bottles per bottle sold via its 4ocean partnership, serving eco-conscious consumers while expanding into US wholesale through an ambassador-investor model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Hidden Sea industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Premium Wine
- NAICS
- Wineries (312130), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (44532)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands (CRADAIAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Wine Retail (Bottle Shops & Wine Merchants) (CRANABAB)
Keywords
Where The Hidden Sea is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
The Hidden Sea business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others
Revenue model
- Wine Sales: The Hidden Sea generates revenue through direct-to-consumer wine sales via their e-commerce platform and through wholesale/retail distribution. Premium wines include Red Blend, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Pinot Grigio, and sparkling varieties.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
The Hidden Sea product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Hidden Sea produces and sells premium varietal wines (Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Red Blend, GSM, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Rosé, and sparkling wines) sourced from South Australia's Limestone Coast. For every bottle sold, the company funds the removal of 10 plastic bottles from the ocean through verified partnerships with 4ocean and ReSea Project. Sales occur primarily through the company's own e-commerce site and through expanding wholesale and retail distribution channels.
Product overview
The Hidden Sea is a premium wine company offering a portfolio of varietal wines from South Australia's Limestone Coast. The product line includes red wines (Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Red Blend, GSM), white wines (Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay), Rosé, and sparkling wines (Spritz Pinot Grigio, Blanc de Blancs). Each bottle sold funds the removal of 10 plastic bottles from the ocean via partnerships with 4ocean and ReSea Project. The wines feature sustainable Forest Film labels and QR codes for plastic removal traceability.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Shiraz A red wine with intense flavors of ripe blackberries, cherry, spice, chocolate, and vanilla oak, with a soft and silky texture, sold to consumers through the company's e-commerce storefront and retail/wholesale channels.
- Pinot Noir A red wine with deep garnet color featuring layers of cherry, raspberry, silky tannins, wild strawberries, and toasty oak, sold to consumers through e-commerce and retail/wholesale channels.
- Red Blend A soft, medium-bodied red blend with juicy red and black fruit, fine tannins, fresh acidity, and hints of spice and licorice (82% Shiraz, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Malbec), targeted at everyday wine consumers.
- Sauvignon Blanc
Quantifiable outcome
- 26-36+ million plastic bottles removed from the ocean since July 2020
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Hidden Sea
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Hidden Sea technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
The Hidden Sea partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- 4oceanflagship4ocean is the primary ocean cleanup partner of The Hidden Sea. For every bottle of wine sold, the company funds the removal of 10 plastic bottles from the ocean through 4ocean's professional cleanup crews. 4ocean logs every pound of plastic collected with photos, GPS data, and cleanup records. Their supply chain is independently audited by GreenCircle Certified, and they are a Certified B Corp and Public Benefit Corporation. The partnership provides transparent, verifiable impact tracking via QR codes on bottles.
- ReSea ProjectcoreReSea Project is a purpose-driven business from Denmark that teams up with The Hidden Sea to clean the ocean of plastic in Jakarta, Indonesia. Both organizations are accredited to the highest standards in the world. The partnership focuses on removing plastic waste from the ocean before it reaches the sea, with similar weighing and sorting processes as 4ocean.
- Funlab GroupminorFunlab is the world's premier creator of competitive socialising experiences, with eight fun-inducing brands across Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Listed as a business ally supporting The Hidden Sea's mission.
- Wildlife Coast CruisesminorExperience provider offering boat tours of Phillip Island & Wilsons Promontory in Victoria, Australia. They proudly stock The Hidden Sea wines onboard their boats.
- Surfrider Foundation AustraliaminorRegistered not for profit sea-roots organisation dedicated to the protection of Australia's waves and beaches through conservation, activism, research and education. Listed as a business ally.
- Seabin ProjectminorThe Seabin Project implements a 'whole solution' approach to ocean pollution using education, science, technology, and community activation. Listed as a business ally of The Hidden Sea.
- Deeper BlueminorFounded in 1996, Deeper Blue is the world's largest online community dedicated to freediving, scuba diving, diving travel, and the oceans. Listed as a business ally.
- Curatorial+Co.minorArt gallery showcasing works by established and emerging artists and designers from across the globe. Listed as an ally in The Hidden Sea's Ally Program.
- Paradise RanchminorAn off-grid, sustainable, luxury 50-acre ranch powered entirely by the sun, located just outside Sequoia National Forest in California. Listed as a business ally.
- Eco HotelsminorSustainable hotel accommodations provider that plants a tree for every booking and supports Plastic Exchange Bali. Listed as a business ally.
- Ocean BottleminorAward-winning reusable bottle company where each sale funds the collection of 11.4kgs of plastic before it enters the ocean (equivalent to 1000 plastic bottles). Plastic collectors can exchange waste for money or credit via blockchain technology. Listed as a business ally.
- The Marine Diariesminor1% for the Planet non-profit organisation using digital media and storytelling to communicate ocean science and inspire the next generation of ocean warriors. Listed as a business ally.
- Pottery For The PlanetminorCompany dedicated to eradicating single-use plastic waste through beautiful, unique handmade products that aim to save over 1.2 billion disposable coffee cups from going to landfill each year. Listed as a business ally.
- GreenCircle CertifiedcoreIndependent third-party auditor that verifies 4ocean's entire plastic supply chain. GreenCircle Certified conducts the audit that confirms The Hidden Sea's ocean cleanup claims are legitimate and verified.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Hidden Sea competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Meiomi Wines: Constellation Brands-owned premium wine brand with strong DTC and wholesale distribution. Comparable in the premium tier with a focus on branded storytelling and broad varietal range, similar to The Hidden Sea's go-to-market approach.
- 19 Crimes: Treasury Wine Estates-owned premium wine brand known for disruptive, story-driven marketing and AR-enabled labels. Comparable to The Hidden Sea as a marketing-led, brand-first premium wine with strong consumer pull and a similar accessible premium price point.
- Dark Horse Wine: E. & J. Gallo-owned premium accessible wine brand positioned at the same price-to-quality tier as The Hidden Sea. Directly comparable on varietal breadth, channel mix (DTC plus grocery), and target consumer (mainstream wine drinkers seeking above-average quality).
- Bread & Butter Wines: Premium accessible wine brand from California with a strong DTC and on-premise presence. Comparable to The Hidden Sea in positioning a single, friendly premium brand across multiple varietals, with a comparable price-quality corridor.
- [yellow tail]: Casella Wines-owned Australian-origin wine brand with massive global distribution. Comparable to The Hidden Sea as a fellow Australian-origin wine brand targeting approachable, high-volume consumption, though at a much lower price point and far larger scale.
- Josh Cellars: Premium family-story-driven wine brand distributed nationally in the U.S. Comparable to The Hidden Sea on positioning, varietal breadth, and reliance on brand storytelling to justify a price premium over commodity wines.
Broad incumbents
- Willamette Valley Vineyards: U.S.-listed (NASDAQ: WVVI) premium Oregon winery with DTC, wholesale, and tasting room channels. Comparable as a premium wine producer with a sustainability and estate-growing narrative and a similar reliance on DTC plus selective wholesale distribution.
- Ste. Michelle Wine Estates: Largest premium wine producer in the U.S. (owned by Sycamore Partners). Operates broadly across varietals and price tiers and is a key competitor for U.S. shelf space and distributor mindshare that The Hidden Sea is targeting.
- Treasury Wine Estates: Australia-headquartered global wine major (owner of 19 Crimes, Penfolds, Beringer, etc.). A broad incumbent in the same Australian wine ecosystem as The Hidden Sea, with vastly deeper distribution and capital — a key competitive backdrop.
- Constellation Brands: Global beverage major with a large premium wine portfolio (including Meiomi, Robert Mondavi, Kim Crawford). The Hidden Sea explicitly references a past relationship with Constellation, making it a directly relevant broad incumbent and potential strategic acquirer or distributor.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Hidden Sea social profiles
Digital presenceThe Hidden Sea compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
The Hidden Sea financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Hidden Sea leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
The Hidden Sea subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
The Hidden Sea funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Hidden Sea M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Hidden Sea
What does The Hidden Sea do?
The Hidden Sea produces and sells premium varietal wines (Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Red Blend, GSM, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Rosé, and sparkling wines) sourced from South Australia's Limestone Coast. For every bottle sold, the company funds the removal of 10 plastic bottles from the ocean through verified partnerships with 4ocean and ReSea Project. Sales occur primarily through the company's own e-commerce site and through expanding wholesale and retail distribution channels.
Is The Hidden Sea a public or private company?
The Hidden Sea is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Hidden Sea founded?
The Hidden Sea was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Hidden Sea based?
The Hidden Sea is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Hidden Sea make money?
One revenue line is on record: wine Sales.
Who are The Hidden Sea's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Meiomi Wines, 19 Crimes, Dark Horse Wine, Bread & Butter Wines, [yellow tail] and Josh Cellars. Broad incumbents are Willamette Valley Vineyards, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Treasury Wine Estates and Constellation Brands.
Does The Hidden Sea have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Hidden Sea.
What industry is The Hidden Sea in?
The Hidden Sea's product category is Premium Wine. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADAIAB, Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands, with a secondary code of CRANABAB, Wine Retail (Bottle Shops & Wine Merchants). Its NAICS code is 312130 and its SIC code is 2080.