World's oldest champagne likely to fetch $140 million a bottle at auction

The world's oldest champagne that was lying at the bottom of the sea for 170 years is expected to fetch as much as 140 million dollars a bottle at an auction in Finland.

Two bottles will go on sale on Friday in Mariehamn, capital of Aaland, a Finnish-controlled archipelago of 6500 islands in the Baltic sea, where divers discovered the precious cargo in a previously unknown shipwreck.

"This is truly a historic event," the Age quoted Stephane Baschiera, president of Veuve Clicquot, as saying.

"We have worked closely with the government of Aaland since the discovery of the shipwreck to help salvage and protect the precious wines, which we know now were tasted by Madame Clicquot herself," said Baschiera.

New York-based wine specialist Acker Merrall and Condit, which is running the sale, quoted Richard Juhlin, an authority on champagne, as saying the bottles might fetch 100,000 euros, 10 times the minimum price of 10,000 euros.

About 145 bottles were found intact, including Veuve Clicquot, Heidsieck — today made by Vranken-Pommery Monopole — and Juglar, which became part of Jacquesson.

The two being sold are from Juglar and Veuve, which will also offer 15 rare bottles from its own cellars and is a partner in the sale.