PRESS RELEASE
Mariehamn, May 11th 2011
Unique Champagne Auction in Åland
Veuve Clicquot to partner shipwreck champagne auction
The Government of Åland has decided that premier champagne house Veuve Clicquot will partner them in the upcoming champagne auction in Mariehamn, Åland on 3 June 2011. Alongside the unique bottles of champagne found in a shipwreck in the Åland archipelago in Finland in the summer of 2010, Veuve Clicquot will bring rare vintage champagne bottles to the auction. Auctioneers are Acker Merrall & Condit, the world’s premier wine auction house.
This unique auction will feature two single bottles found in the wreck, one of each from the legendary houses of Veuve Clicquot and Juglar. These vintage champagnes, which date to the early 1840´s and are thought to be the oldest champagnes for sale in existence, are among the most exciting discoveries ever in the world of wine.
In addition to the shipwreck bottles, Veuve Clicquot will bring in bottles from their own cellars. These rare bottles are not normally for sale on the market and are expected to gain further interest in the auction. The entire financial surplus from the bottles that are sold at the auction will go to a good cause, the Government of Åland has decided.
“The financial surplus that can be generated by the sale of the champagne bottles will go to charitable causes, such as environmental measures for improving the quality of water in the seas,” said departmental head Rainer Juslin of the Åland Government.
Champagne producers Veuve Clicquot said that they too are happy to commit to a good cause.
“This is truly a historic event. We have worked closely with the Government of Åland since the discovery of the shipwreck, to help salvage and protect the precious wines, which we know now were tasted by Madame Clicquot herself! We are proud to be associated to the sale of the oldest bottle of Veuve Clicquot,” said Stéphane Baschiera, President of Veuve Clicquot.
Having survived nearly two centuries at the bottom of the Baltic Sea, the contents of the bottles are extremely well preserved. The constant temperature and low light levels have provided optimal conditions for storage, and the pressure in the bottles has prevented seawater from seeping in through the corks. A total of 145 bottles of champagne were salvaged. The name of the sunken vessel is still unknown, as is also its destination.
Further information from The Government of Åland:
Rainer Juslin, Permanent Secretary of the Department for Education and Culture Tel. +358 18 25230 or +358 457 547 1338, rainer.juslin@regeringen.ax
Björn Häggblom, Head of Communications Tel. +358 18 25143 or +358 50 547 0951, bjorn.haggblom@regeringen.ax
Photos:
Please visit www.visitaland.com/champagne for photos and further information about Åland.
The press release as word doc.