What is the significance of the title, The Wine-dark Sea?

During the early portion of the novel, Surprise is near an eerie mid-ocean volcanic event that creates a new island of cinder and ash. The island subsists for only a few hours before eroding back into the sea. The bizarre weather accompanying the eruption initially confuses Aubrey. The magenta color of the water surrounding the eruption give the novel its title—The Wine-Dark Sea.