Experts believe this 1,700-year-old bottle of wine is still drinkable

Is it safe to drink? Maybe. Are you willing to? Most likely not.

Visitors to the Historical Museum of the Palatinate, southwest German Speyer has a lot to offer. You can go back in time to learn about the Habsburg dynasty’s history, look at a gold chalice with jewels that belonged to an 18th century bishop, and, perhaps, most importantly, ask if they would (or would) like to take a sip of a nearly 1,700-year-old mug. bottle of wine. 

The museum’s most famous piece is the “Speyer wine bottles”, which are believed to be the oldest known bottle of wine in the world. wine. The museum dates The bottle was brought to 325 C.E. Even a romantic story is behind it. In the 4th century, a couple of Romans from high society were buried together. Over a dozen booze-filled bottles were also buried with them. Their gravesite was found in 1867. This bottle, unlike other bottles meant to keep them buzzing into the afterlife was completely sealed and intact. 

The museum claims that ancient Romans added spices and honey to their wine and then poured olive oil into bottles to keep out the air. That now-solidified blob of oil — and a thin layer of wax over the mouth of the bottle— have kept the wine safely sealed inside ever since. 

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2011 The Local reportedThe museum had kept the bottle “in the exact spot” for more than 100 years. The museum’s head of collection, Ludger Tekampe, told the outlet that he was the only staff member who had ever handled the bottle — and he acknowledged that it was “strange” to touch it. The historical importance of sealing the wine isn’t the only reason. Nobody knows what would happen to it if someone opened it. 

“We don’t know if it can withstand the shock. [of] Tekampe stated that the air is still liquid. It is still liquid and some believe it should be subject to new scientific analysis. But we aren’t sure. 

Could you still drink it? Really wanted? According to FuturismMost of the liquid inside the bottle is a “firm and rosin-like mixture”, so any liquid left is not wine anymore. It has also lost all its alcohol content. Monika Christmann, wine professor, told the outlet that a small amount of liquid was left but “wouldn’t bring joy to the palette.” 

In an Instagram post, the Museum describes the bottle. wrote that The taste would be “likened to a tasteless chewing tobacco gum”, which is not only bad but doesn’t inspire confidence. 

You can view the bottle at the Historical Museum of the Palatinate’s Wine Museum if you are in Speyer. The Wine Museum admission is free. This means that you can spend a few Euros more on a bottle of wine that’s not ancient. Gewürztraminer.