Balbin

Balbin dares to redefine what mineral water can be. In 2024, it unveiled a groundbreaking method of carbonation; in 2025, it introduced a category the world had never seen. Two milestones, one vision: to honor water as a timeless beverage with a refined sensory presence.

For centuries, sparkling waters have followed two rules: they were either naturally effervescent or infused with industrial gas. At the Fine Water Summit in 2024, held at the Basque Culinary Center, Balbin unlocked a third path– carbonating with natural CO₂ captured from grape fermentation in local wineries. This sustainable approach echoes the effects of méthode champenoise used in fine sparkling wines, producing micro-bubbles of exceptional delicacy with softened acidity and a silken texture.

Building on this foundation, Balbin unveiled Ester Water®, a new category of mineral water defined by its aromatic intent. Naturally sparkling and enriched with esters—the fruity and floral compounds that imbue wine with its vibrant, ephemeral character.

Ester Water is not wine, nor is it a conventional flavored or sparkling water. The experience is layered and ethereal, as a collection of aromas dance on fine bubbles in a medium of remarkable clarity. Its aromas are never engineered for single-note consistency; they are shaped by nature and craft, evolving with each vintage. Balbin’s unique minerality frames the bouquet, enhancing expression and creating a subtle mouthfeel that evokes complexity without sugar, tannins, or alcohol. To honour this radical expression of winemaking heritage, Balbin created The Ester Collection, a curated series of Ester Waters capturing the aromatic signatures of South Moravian wines. Each edition reflects its vintage, varietal, and winery, making every bottle a sensory portrait of place and time.

At the heart of Balbin is its source: an artesian lake beneath the South Moravian highlands, formed nearly 20 million years ago and sealed beneath thick clay that protects it from outside influence. Hydrologists liken it to a “sand-filled aquarium,” where water is naturally filtered over decades through rock and sediment. Rising under its own pressure and never pumped, the water surfaces with a mineral profile shaped by deep time. Bottling at the source preserves that integrity; the minerality that defines Balbin is both provenance and palate.

The experience extends beyond the bottle. Balbin is presented in extra-flint glass, with its emblem kiln-fired at 600 degrees using precious metals—real gold or platinum. Designed for any bespoke space, it invites respect for the value of water as a timeless beverage. For those who embrace the art of fine dining, pleasure resides in the details—the harmony of flavors, the presentation, and the tactile beauty of the objects that accompany a meal. Balbin exists for these moments, as an authentic expression of nature, elegance, and an unwavering pursuit of extraordinary experiences.

Awards