When divers within the Baltic Sea first noticed the wreck on the sonar, they thought it was a fishing boat.
However once they went to research, they discovered a nineteenth Century crusing ship, “loaded to the perimeters” with champagne, wine, mineral water and porcelain.
They counted greater than 100 bottles of champagne within the wreck, off the coast of Sweden.
And now Tomasz Stachura, of Polish diving group Baltitech, believes the cargo may have been destined for a Russian tsar.
Baltitech, which specialises in exploring shipwrecks within the Baltic, described the discover as “treasure”.
Mr Stachura, chief of the crew, mentioned: “I have been a diver for 40 years. Occasionally, you see one or two bottles.
“However I’ve by no means seen crates with bottles of alcohol, and baskets of water, like this.”
The discover was made about 20 nautical miles (37km) south of the Swedish island of Oland.
Two divers had mentioned they’d do “a fast dive” however then had been gone for practically two hours.
“So we already knew that there was one thing very attention-grabbing on the underside,” Mr Stachura added.
The clay water bottles, exhibiting the model identify of German firm Selters, helped them date the wreck to 1850 to 1867.
Whereas champagne could be of extra curiosity to many as we speak, mineral water was an unique product “handled virtually like drugs” which “solely discovered its method to royal tables”, mentioned Mr Stachura.
“Its worth was so treasured that transports had been escorted by the police.”
Mr Stachura informed the BBC he believes the products may have been heading for the desk of Russia’s Tsar Nicholas I – who’s reported to have misplaced one in every of his ships within the space in 1852.
“That might clarify why the ship had this cargo – which was all very unique,” he mentioned.
“Often, once we discover wrecks the cargo could be very low-cost.”
He thinks the ship was heading throughout the Baltic to both Stockholm or St Petersberg – which might once more tie in with the speculation.
“A dive itself solely takes about 20 minutes,” he mentioned. “However then diving into the archives is what will be extra attention-grabbing.
“Sooner or later, possibly we’ll know extra about this wreck.”
As for the champagne – and prestigious mineral water – Mr Stachura believes each could be drinkable as we speak.
For now, the treasure is staying the place it’s, with underwater archaeologists referred to as in to help. Swedish authorities have been notified, and administration additionally must be performed earlier than it may be dropped at the floor.
“It had been mendacity there for 170 years so let it lie there yet one more yr,” mentioned Mr Stachura.
Wine author Henry Jeffreys, writer of Empire of Booze, mentioned: “Champagne was usually lots sweeter within the nineteenth Century.
“And if it was going to the Russian market, they preferred it very, very candy. Russia was the most important marketplace for champagne then. In London, they most popular it drier.”
Brandy was generally added to champagne again then, he mentioned. This, together with the sugar, would have helped with preservation.
And the situations – 58m underwater, within the chilly and darkish – had been good for the bottles.
“If you are going to go away champagne for 150 plus years, the underside of the ocean is a extremely good place,” mentioned Mr Jeffreys.
Relying on the state of the corks, the champagne may nonetheless be “palatable”, he added – despite the fact that it is more likely to have misplaced its fizz by now.
