Underwater diving club "DIVING” colleagues from Poland, divers have made a sensational discovery in the depths of the Baltic Sea, finding a 19th century shipwreck that was fully loaded with champagne. This historic find has fascinated both historians and champagne enthusiasts around the world.
Last week, during a diving expedition about 37 kilometers south of the Swedish island of Åland, a group of Polish divers stumbled upon a sunken merchant ship. Around 100 well-preserved champagne bottles were found in the wreck, as well as mineral water and porcelain.
"Such a find is extremely rare," admits Tomáš Stachura, head of the "Baltictech" diving group. "I've been a diver for 40 years and although champagne bottles are not unusual, this is the first time in my career to have such a large load in one wreck."
Thanks to clay bottles that contained champagne, divers managed to more accurately determine the time of the ship's sinking - the second half of the 19th century. The brand of the German company "Selters" was found on one of the bottles, which provides valuable information about the origin of this historical drink.
The discovery has been handed over to the Swedish authorities, but the champagne bottles will only be brought to land after careful preparation. "The ship has been lying at the bottom of the sea for about 170 years, so we will let it stay there for some time until we are fully ready for the recovery operation," Stachura explains.
The Baltic Sea, which holds around 100,000 shipwrecks, is a real treasure chest for marine archaeologists and divers. This latest find is just one of many proofs of how many secrets the deep sea still hides.
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19th century champagne trade routes and the reasons for the sinking of the ship
- century was the golden age of champagne. This drink had become a symbol of prestige and wealth in the upper echelons of European society. Champagne production and trade in France, especially in the Champagne region, experienced a rapid boom.
Trade routes
Champagne was exported throughout Europe and beyond. Ships loaded with bottles of champagne made regular voyages across the Atlantic Ocean and the Baltic Sea. Baltic Sea was an important trade route, as champagne was also popular in the court of the Russian emperor and in other countries of the Baltic region.
Possible trade routes:
- France – England – Baltic States: This route was one of the most common. Ships from the Champagne region went to England, where the champagne was transferred to ships that continued to the Baltic Sea.
- France – Netherlands – Baltic States: The Netherlands was an important trading center and many champagne ships called at Amsterdam or Rotterdam before continuing on to the Baltic Sea.
The reasons for the sinking of the ship
- century shipping was associated with many risks. Ships could sink for various reasons:
- Severe storms: The Baltic Sea is known for its strong storms, which could cause the ship to be damaged or even sink.
- Obstacles on the seabed: Unknown obstacles such as shoals or rocks could have damaged the ship's hull.
- Ship construction defects: Sometimes ships could sink due to structural defects.
- Hostilities: The 19th century was full of wars and ships could be attacked and sunk.
- Another possible reason: It is possible that the ship sank while trying to escape the pirates. At the beginning of the 19th century, there were active pirates in the Baltic Sea who attacked merchant ships.
In the particular case the cause of the sinking of the ship can only be determined after thorough research. Marine archaeologists will be able to examine the wreck and try to find answers to many questions, such as what the ship's name was, where it came from and what its route was.
This find is important not only for the research of the history of champagne, but also for the history of the Baltic Sea. It gives us an opportunity to learn more about 19th century trade and life.
