A team of Polish divers has uncovered a remarkable find while exploring the Baltic Sea—a 19th-century shipwreck containing hundreds of still-sealed champagne bottles, nearly rivalling the oldest in the world. This discovery is a significant addition to the maritime history of the region. The bottles, preserved in the cold, dark waters, offer a glimpse into a bygone era and could potentially be among the oldest known champagnes.The discovery was made by Baltictech, a private group specialising in shipwreck exploration. On July 11, the divers were returning from another dive when they nearly overlooked what initially appeared to be a sunken fishing boat 190 feet below the Swedish coast.
Two divers, however, decided to investigate further and vanished for nearly two hours. Their extended absence led the team to suspect they had stumbled upon something significant. When the divers resurfaced, they revealed that the wreck was filled with luxury items, including approximately 100 bottles of champagne, as well as porcelain and mineral water bottles. The mineral water, known as Selters, was historically prized for its medicinal properties and exclusivity to royalty. Remarkably, the brand Selters is still available today.The specific brand of champagne remains unidentified, though one cork bore the letter R. The team leader, Tomasz Stachura, noted the discovery was unprecedented in his 40 years of diving.Stachura speculates that the champagne and other luxury goods might have been destined for royal tables in Stockholm or St. Petersburg when the ship sank in the latter half of the 19th century. Historians believe the champagne could date from between 1850 and 1867, making it only a few years younger than the oldest known bottle, Perrier-Jouet’s 1825 Vintage.While it remains to be seen if the champagne is still drinkable, Stachura is optimistic about its condition. "At this depth, the wreckage is perfectly preserved; the temperature is constant, there are no currents, and it's dark," he said. "That preserves the wreckage in a wonderful way."
