A team of Polish divers made a once-in-a-lifetime discovery last week when they came across a 19th-century shipwreck packed with luxury goods, including hundreds of unopened champagne bottles. The private diving group Baltictech was sailing in the Baltic Sea off the Swedish coast when a sonar image initially dismissed them as an ordinary fishing boat. A determined pair of divers decided to investigate further and disappeared for nearly two hours before returning with news of an extraordinary find. According to a press release, the wreck was loaded with porcelain, mineral water and a staggering number of champagne bottles. The Selters brand of mineral water is particularly interesting because it was once considered a royal elixir and is still produced today. The champagne brand remains a mystery, but divers suspect it may have been destined for the tables of the Stockholm or St Petersburg royal court.
“The divers reported finding about 100 champagne and mineral water bottles among the items,” Baltictech team leader Tomasz Stachura said in a statement. “I have been diving for 40 years and it often happens that you find one or two bottles… but to discover a wreck with so much cargo is a first for me.”
Historians believe the champagne was produced between 1850 and 1867, making it potentially one of the oldest champagnes in the world. The pristine condition of the bottles, preserved in the cold, dark depths of the Baltic Sea, has raised hopes that the champagne may still be drinkable.
The discovery has sparked excitement among historians and champagne lovers alike, as the find could provide valuable insight into maritime trade and luxury goods of the 19th century.
Baltictech seems to be on the right track; the team has joined forces with the MARIS Foundation, Sodertorn University and Professor Johan Ronnby to develop guidelines for future research into the wreck. The team will report on the current status at the Baltictech conference in November.
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