Acker Merrall & Condit to auction century old champagnes

Acker Merrall & Condit, world’s largest fine and rare wine auction house, has announced that it will auction two of the oldest and rarest bottles of wine in the world recoverd in 2010 from a 19th century shipwreck off the Aland Islands in Finland.

The auction will feature two single bottles, one each from the legendary houses of Veuve Clicquot and Juglar. The vintage champagnes, which date to the early 1840s and are thought to be the oldest champagnes are among the discoveries in the world of wine.

To commemorate this unprecedented event, in the days preceding the auction the government of Aland, which owns the priceless bottles, will host exclusive dinners and tastings showcasing many of the world's great champagnes and featuring Richard Juhlin, the world's foremost champagne authority, and Acker Merrall CEO John Kapon.

Acker Merrall & Condit CEO John Kapon said there are few truly historic events in the world of wine, but this is one.

"Having survived nearly two centuries, these bottles of vintage Champagne are without precedent. And it is our enormous privilege to partner with the Government of Aland in presenting these unique wines to the world.

The events surrounding the auction will be filled with excitement and anticipation, and the auction itself is sure to be one of the most important and exhilarating in the history of wine."