Priceless 19th Century Wine Restored in Czech Castle

A collection of 133 bottles of late 19th-century wine, unearthed from beneath a chapel floor at Becov castle in the Czech Republic, has undergone expert restoration. The prestigious French winery Château d'Yquem undertook the meticulous process, preserving the wine's historical integrity.

The bottles, primarily from 1892 to 1899, were discovered in 1985, having been hidden by the castle's owners at the close of World War Two. The cellar master of Château d'Yquem noted the exceptional conservation conditions provided by the humid, cold, and stable underground environment of the old chapel.

Quality tests in 2016, using the Coravin device, confirmed the wine's viability. Château d'Yquem has re-corked several bottles, ensuring authenticity extends to retaining the original dust. The Beaufort-Spontin family, former owners, hid the wine and a reliquary before fleeing to Austria.

The treasure's recovery was facilitated by an American businessman, Danny Douglas, who assisted the family in their retrieval efforts. Following a period of negotiation with authorities, the collection's existence and location were identified, leading to its discovery and subsequent public display at Becov castle.