A team of archaeologists in Utah, United States, has unearthed a bottle of wine estimated to be around 150 years old. The bottle is intact and still filled with wine, a very rare occurrence. The team has enlisted experts to analyze the contents and flavors of the wine.
According to a report from the Associated Press on February 4th, Ian Wright, a public archaeologist in Utah, revealed that the wine bottle was one of thousands of artifacts found on land managed by the United States Forest Service at the Alta ski resort. These artifacts date back to approximately between 1870 and 1890.
Wright told The Park Record, “When they uncovered it, the bottle was still full, with the cork still in place. We immediately realized, ‘Oh my goodness, this is a true treasure.'”
He stated that this is the only known fully intact wine bottle from that time period. “It’s rare for us to find wine bottles with cork intact. Even if we do find them, the cork is usually dried up inside the bottle or only pieces remain. So, this situation is extremely rare.”
Wright’s team sought assistance from High West, the oldest legal distillery in Utah, to analyze the wine in the bottle. A nearby winery, Old Town Cellars, provided equipment that allowed the team to extract some of the wine without damaging the cork.
Isaac Winter, the distilling manager at High West, was the first to taste the wine. He told FOX 13 TV that he was a bit nervous at first but felt compelled to try it.
Describing the aroma of the wine, Winter said, “It doesn’t smell like gasoline or tobacco.” The flavor profile includes “hints of fruit, a slight leather undertone, and a strong aged character.”
He added, “Considering it has been stored for 150 years, its condition is quite impressive.”
Tara Lindley, the sensory and product development director at High West, mentioned that the flavors are complex with notes reminiscent of oxidized fruits.
Analysis indicated that yeast was used in the production process of this wine, leading experts to believe that it is likely a form of beer rather than distilled spirits.
Winter noted, “The bottom of the bottle appears slightly cloudy with a milky white color. We plan to take it back and hopefully cultivate some usable yeast from it.” They now aim to recreate this beverage.
Founded in 1870, High West distillery has a history spanning over a century. Winter explained that they started as a blending distillery and have been sourcing quality spirits nationwide and globally to create exceptional blends.
For Wright, the significance of this archaeological project goes beyond analyzing an old bottle; it brings history back to life, as history belongs to everyone.
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