A Swedish group of divers has started the operation to raise about 70 bottles of champagne from a sunken vessel in the Åland Islands.
The bottles were found in the wreckage of a sailing vessel believed to have been lying on the sea bottom off the island of Föglö for more than 200 years.
The first of the bottles were raised already on Thursday last week, but the Provincial Government of Åland kept the operation a secret until Tuesday. It is still expected to continue for a few more days.
“We needed time to prepare for making a statement and issuing photographs. We also wanted to guarantee peaceful working conditions for the divers. We did not want to endanger the process”, said Björn Gäggblom, spokesman for the province, in a television interview on Tuesday.
Raising the champagne from the shipwreck is costing the provincial government of Åland about EUR 85,000.
When raising the bottles a protective rubber cap is pulled tight on the top of the bottle in order to keep the cork from drying out.
“Nothing is forever. The preservation of champagne depends specifically on the closure technique of the bottle”, says Swedish conservator Max Jarehorn.
Wine experts say that the value of a single bottle of the antique bubbly could be tens of thousands of euros. Auction houses from around the world have been in contact with officials in Åland asking about intentions to sell the champagne.
