Shipwrecked Veuve breaks records

A bottle of 1841 Veuve Clicquot, discovered in last year’s haul of Champagne in a shipwreck off the Åland Islands, has set a new record for old Champagne sold at auction, fetching €30,000.

The Veuve and other 19th century bottles discovered in the wreck from the now defunct house Juglar were auctioned by Acker Merrall & Condit in Mariehamn at the beginning of the month.

The Juglar sold for €24,000 and the other 15 lots from Veuve Clicquot, specially released for the event, were all sold too.

Acker Merrall & Condit holds the previous record for Champagne sold at auction when it sold two bottles of 1959 Dom Pérignon Rosé in April 2008 for US$84,700.

Acker Merrall & Condit’s CEO, John Kapon, said: “We are overjoyed by today’s outcome. We felt privileged to work with the government of Åland and Veuve Clicquot to produce this unprecedented sale. Today proved to be one of the most historic and exhilarating events in the world of wine.

“The tremendous amount of interest shown in the auction is a testament to the continued growth of the auction market for fine and rare wine.”

Departmental head of the Åland government, Rainer Juslin, added: “The financial surplus that is 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.”

Rupert Millar, 16.06.2011