Polish divers have uncovered a 19th-century shipwreck off the coast of Sweden, filled with bottles of champagne, a cargo deemed 'very exclusive' that might have been intended for the tsar of Russia before the ship sank. The divers found the wreck, which also includes porcelain and bottles of mineral water, at a depth of about 60 meters in the Baltic Sea. However, they need approval from Swedish authorities to bring the cargo ashore.
'This ship is almost intact, not much destroyed, only the bow was slightly damaged,' explained Marek Cacaj from the Baltictech diving group. 'Initially, we didn't focus on the cargo of this ship; we just explored around it. But then we noticed numerous bottles, starting with the champagne bottles.'
Cacaj mentioned that the divers have identified the champagne brand, which he described as 'very exclusive.' 'Most likely, this champagne belonged to the tsar, so the cargo was meant for Russia, which could significantly increase its value,' he stated. 'We also know, as we are in contact with the champagne producer, that there was a special champagne produced for the tsar, which was sweeter, specifically for him.'
If granted permission to retrieve some bottles, Cacaj said they would send them to the manufacturer to determine their current value and drinkability. Additionally, the mineral water, highly valued for its medicinal properties, was also a precious commodity during that era.
'We must remember that in those times... mineral water was a very valuable load,' Cacaj noted. 'It was often protected by police or the army.'
