Oldest drinkable champagne... and beer?

Oldest drinkable champagne… and beer?

Last updated: February 10, 2019 at 19:11 pm

In 2010, Swedish divers recovered 145 bottles of champagne (95 Juglar/Jacquesson, 46 Veuve Clicquot, 4 Heidsieck/Piper-Heidsieck) and five bottles of beer from the 170-year-old Föglö wreck (also known as The Champagne Schooner) south of the Åland archipelago (Finland). The bottles found at a depth of 50 m (165 ft) were preserved by constant darkness, temperature (4-6°C), and pressure. A single bottle was sold at auction for €30,000 EUR ($32,625 USD).

After analysis by the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, the beer was determined to be from Belgium. The University of Leuven reproduced a limited quantity (1,700 units) that was bottled and sold by Stallhagen brewery (Stallhagen Historic Beer 1842).

World’s oldest champagne auctioned for record-setting price. The Telegraph. June 3, 2011.

Finland Ministry of Education, Science and Culture

Stallhagen Brewery

Bottle from the Föglö wreck. Photo © Visit Åland (Fair Use)

Beer replicated from the Föglö wreck bottles. Photo © Stallhagen

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