The old ship was discovered on the bottom of the Baltic Sea in September by diver Jerry Wilhelmsson and his father, Finnish newspaper Alandstidningen reported on Tuesday. It is estimated that the ship sank about 150 years ago, burying hundreds of bottles in the hold at the same time.
The name of the ship remains a mystery, which is why it's impossible to check it against any existing records. The researchers have, however, managed to measure the vessel, which is 27 meters long and 6 meters wide. It also has a decoration on the bow, which is not typical for a vessel of this size, according to the divers.
To find out how drinkable the liquid is, four bottles of the cargo will be withdrawn and uncorked for testing as requested by local authorities. It is unknown when exactly the underwater explorers will complete their descent, as it all depends on the weather.
A sunken ship with a cargo of champagne, which was produced in the first half of the 18th century, was found in the same area in 2010. Some of the 145 surviving bottles were passed to a local museum, and the rest were sold at an auction in favor of Baltic marine protection and the development of underwater archeology. The record for the most expensive bottle of wine was set in 2011 when a single antique bottle of "Veuve Clicquot" was sold for 30 thousand euros.
