Divers have discovered the wreck of a 19th-century sailing ship full of champagne and mineral water in the Baltic Sea off the Swedish coast.
Text: Ingrid Larmoyeur | Image: Vinissima
Polish divers from the BalticTech Team were on a reconnaissance mission in the Baltic Sea. After noticing a small wreck on their sonar system, two divers went to investigate, discovering the shipwreck with the champagne bottles. It turned out to be a 19th-century shipwreck still in relatively good condition. The ship probably capsized in the mid-19th century.
Unusual quantity
In the wreck, divers found crates of champagne, mineral water and porcelain. The team estimates that there are about 100 bottles of champagne and also mineral water in the wreck. It is not the first time champagne has been found in a shipwreck in the Baltic Sea - , but such a large number of bottles is unusual.
Besides champagne, there were also clay bottles with the then luxurious German water brand Selters. Thanks to the logo on these clay bottles, BalticTech was able to date the shipment between 1850 and 1867.
Where the ship went is still unclear. Possibly to St Petersburg. After all, the Russian elite were fond of champagne at the time and Russian Tsar Nicholas 1 lost a ship in this area around 1852.
This discovery is not the oldest champagne ever found in a shipwreck in the Baltic Sea. Around 30 bottles of champagne were discovered in 2010. Those bottles probably dated back to the 1780s and they too were probably destined for Russia.
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