MOSCOW, August 6, 2008 - Precious cargo from a ship that sank in the Baltic Sea more than 80 years ago has been delivered to The Ritz-Carlton, Moscow. From this rare trove, ten bottles of the unique Heidsieck & Co Monopole Champagne 1907 are now available for sale at the hotel.
On November 3, 1916 at 5.30 a.m., a German U-22 submarine led by Commander Bruno Hoppe sank a Swedish ketch called The Jonkoping, commanded by Captain E.B. Eriksson. The incident occurred off the coast of Finland, when the Jonköping was crossing the maritime border between Sweden and Finland on a foggy night. The sunken ship’s cargo, which consisted of Champagne, Cognac and Burgundy wines, was on its way to Rauma, Finland, where it was to be transported by rail for delivery to Tsar Nicolas II in St. Petersburg.
On the 27th of May 1997, the long-lost shipwreck was found by a Swedish search team, “Centic Marine AB,” and it was ultimately raised to the sea’s surface in July 1998.
The Cognac and the barrels of Burgundy wine salvaged from the Jonkoping did not live up to 82 years of sea immersion, but 2,000 bottles of Heidsieck & Co Monopole Champagne were found to have remained extraordinarily well-preserved. They reveal a fabulous taste to this day.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, Heidsieck & Co Monopole was the Champagne House of Kings. It was officially warranted by Tsar Nicolas II, by the Emperor of Germany, by the Emperor of Austria-Hungary and, in 1911, by the King of England, who granted the prestigious Royal Warrant to the house, naming it "Purveyors of Champagne by Appointment to his Majesty." The brand was equally famous in Russia, and more than 250,000 bottles per year were shipped to Russia between 1900 and 1910.
The Heidsieck Monopole Champagne 1907 can be purchased at The Ritz-Carlton, Moscow at the price of 880,000 RUB (approx. 35,000 USD) per bottle.
Located just off Red Square, next to the Kremlin, in the heart of the cultural and business center of Russia’s capital, The Ritz-Carlton, Moscow features the largest guest rooms and suites providing cutting-edge technological amenities. The fine dining restaurant Jeroboam by the Michelin Star Chef Heinz Winkler, O2 Lounge on the 12th floor with magnificent views of the Kremlin and Red Square, and a full-service spa by ESPA are among hotel’s premium amenities. For more information and reservations, contact your travel professional, call The Ritz-Carlton, Moscow at +7 495 225 8888 or visit http://www.ritzcarlton.com/.