The most expensive champagne in the world is the 1907 Heidsieck, which—if it ever comes up for sale—can change hands for more than €200,000 per bottle. For comparison, the second most expensive champagne is Pernod-Ricard Perrier-Jouët, with a price of around €35,000 per bottle.

The fascinating story behind the 1907 Heidsieck explains why it holds the title of the most expensive and, incidentally, the most legendary champagne.

This noble vintage, celebrating its 110th anniversary, is also known as “The Champagne That Came from the Sea.”

In 1916, the Swedish cargo ship Jönköping was carrying several cases of 1907 Heidsieck to the court of Russian Tsar Nicholas II. However, the ship never reached its destination. During World War I, it was sunk by German submarines off the coast of Finland on November 3, 1916 (after the entire crew had been evacuated). The precious cargo remained lost and forgotten for 82 years, lying 62 meters underwater at 4°C, subjected to the pressure of the sea, until about 2,000 bottles were recovered from the wreck in 1998.

Surprisingly, this unusual storage did not harm the champagne at all. Many of the bottles were purchased by the company Caviar House, and some can still occasionally be found on the market. At least 10 bottles eventually made it to Russia, where The Ritz-Carlton acquired them and sold them in 2008 for €25,000 per bottle—which, in hindsight, was a real bargain.

It remains to be seen how long it will take before the last bottle of this legendary champagne is consumed and another takes its place as the most expensive champagne in the world.