Russian Vodka King’s Superyacht Is a $24M Display of Opulence With a Quirky Theme

Superyachts displaying any shade of red on their hulls are ultra-rare, making them even more special compared to other luxury boats. Most of the time, the owners ask for this head-turning color due to a particular interest or passion, like hot-red sports cars. In the case of this 2016 Admiral model, the inspiration is highly unusual: a love of wine.

The Russian mogul who allegedly owns Quinta Essentia is also an avid yachtsman, serial yacht owner, and wine enthusiast. The vessel's Latin name, meaning the Fifth Element, also refers to wine. Valentin Zavadnikov's daughter, who owns a winery in Italy, once explained during an interview that wine represents the fifth element for their family.

This love of wine went much further than the yacht's name, translating to a quirky theme that defined not one but three bespoke pleasure craft. It all started at the end of 2008 when Zavadnikov took delivery of Celestial Hope, a fabulous 47 meters (154 feet) Heesen yacht.

Even before he took Celestial Hope on its first cruise, Zavadnikov already commissioned a second, bigger yacht from the same builder. This would become the first Quinta Essentia, a 55-meter (180 feet) Heesen delivered in 2011. At the time, it became the prestigious Dutch shipyard's flagship.

As its name suggested, the original Quinta Essentia was an unusual tribute to wine. It sported an eye-catching "metallic red Merlot" color, directly inspired by the family's Merlot vineyard in Tuscany, Italy.

Taking things even further, its master suite exuded a wine scent. That's because each of the cabins onboard was supposed to represent one of the elements (earth, fire, air, and water) from the interior style down to the room scent. Since wine was metaphorically seen as the fifth element, the master suite became a temple for wine worship.

The wine theme wasn't the only extravagant feature onboard the Heesen flagship. It reportedly boasted a fabulous outdoor cinema with movies being projected onto the waterfall cascading into the massive jacuzzi and a $10,000 piano.

Both of the Heesen yachts were supposed to become a home away from home for the Russian tycoon. That's because he traveled a lot due to his passion for yacht racing. A former politician and owner of the Beluga Group, the largest producer of alcoholic beverages in the country, Zavadnikov also happened to be an avid sailor. He founded the Synergy Russia Sailing Team and participated in numerous regattas around the world. In 2013, he was even named "Best Yachtsman" by the prestigious Monaco Yacht Club.

The current Quinta Essentia came to life in 2016, after the previous bespoke pleasure craft were sold for millions of dollars. This new ship became the flagship of another shipyard, the Italian Admiral Yachts. Also a 180-footer, it combined the same unusual wine theme with a modern, hybrid propulsion system.

The new vessel was designed by the Monaco-based Sergei Dobroserdov studio and built entirely in aluminum by Admiral, part of the acclaimed Italian Sea Group. Michela Reverberi styled its interior following the same theme based on the four elements plus wine.

Quinta Essentia boasts an atypical cabin layout. It includes not one but two master suites, one on the main deck and the other on the upper deck. The other four guest cabins can be converted into two VIP cabins for a more private layout. Each VIP cabin would boast a living room and two en-suite bathrooms in that case.

A true oasis for relaxation, the yacht comes with a large swimming pool aft on the main deck, close to a shaded lounge area for al-fresco dining and a gym. It also includes a state-of-the-art spa on the lower deck, with a sauna, steam room, massage room that can double as a beauty parlor, and a generous swimming pool.

The main salon feels even bigger thanks to the large windows that bring in plenty of sunlight and panoramic views. Like all contemporary yacht salons, it features a well-equipped bar and an advanced entertainment center. The touch-and-go helipad on the bow is another luxurious feature typical for contemporary superyachts.

Built on Admiral's innovative E-Motion platform, Quinta Essentia also raises the bar in terms of performance. It promises significantly lower noise levels thanks to top-notch insulation technologies and much more efficient cruising compared to yachts in the same size category. This is mainly due to the hybrid propulsion system that ensures 15% fuel savings.

Twin MAN 1,400 HP engines and two 150 kW electric motors can propel Quinta Essentia at more than 16 knots (18.4 mph/29.6 kph). The yacht's lightweight hull also contributes to its optimized efficiency. At economical speeds, the Admiral yacht promises an impressive transatlantic range.

After a significant price drop, Admiral Quinta Essentia asked for €22 million ($24 million) two years ago. It's no longer on the market at the moment, yet it's available for charter, with weekly rates starting at €280,000 ($307,000).

Although Zavadnikov's love affair with superyachts and wine was highly controversial, it gave birth to three unique luxury toys, each with its remarkable beauty. No matter what, the current Quinta Essentia remains one of the most memorable bespoke superyachts with Burgundy-color accents.