According to Bloomberg, two bottles of the world’s oldest Champagne, which spent about 170 years at the bottom of the ocean, were sold for 54,000 euros ($78,400) at an auction in Finland on June 3. The second lot, containing vintage Veuve, went for 30,000 euros, which was the most paid price for a bottle which for the auction house—America’s oldest wineshop Acker Merrall & Condit. A bottle of champagne from Juglar, which became part of Jacquessonsold now was sold for 24,000 euros.

Photo:www.thestate.com

Precious bottles of Veuve Clicquot were found by divers in a newly discovered shipwreck in a Finnish-controlled archipelago of 6,500 islands in the Baltic Sea last summer. The rarities were sold in Mariehamn, capital of Aaland. About 145 bottles were found there, including Heidsieck—today made by Vranken-Pommery Monopole.

“This is truly a historic event,” said Stephane Baschiera, president of Veuve Clicqout. “We have worked closely with the government of Aaland since the discovery of the shipwreck to help salvage and protect the precious wines, which we know now were tasted by Madame Clicquot herself.”

The original destination of the Champagne is unknown. Anders Naasman, one of the divers, said it may have been headed for the tsar’s court in St. Petersburg. It was well preserved because it lay horizontally, under pressure, at a low temperature in the dark, 50 meters (55 yards) below the surface.

The proceeds of the sale will go to a good cause, such as environmental measures to improve the quality of the water in the seas around Aaland, whose main industries are shipping, trade, banking, farming and food.

Since 1987 Veuve Clicquot belongs to LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA (MC), the world’s largest producer of luxury goods.