A treasure hidden during the war resurfaces: 133 bottles of 19th-century wine on display in a Czech castle

An exceptional collection of wines dating from the late 19th century, long hidden beneath the floor of a chapel in Bečov Castle, Czech Republic, is now on public display after meticulous restoration carried out with the help of the prestigious French wine estate Château d'Yquem.

The 133 bottles, most of which were produced between 1892 and 1899, were discovered in 1985 in a cache built under a chapel in the castle. They had been hidden there at the end of the Second World War by the former owners of the estate, the Beaufort-Spontin family, at a time when the region was going through a period of great upheaval.

According to Toni El Khawand, cellar master of Château d'Yquem, the storage conditions proved remarkably favorable. Buried in an ancient chapel with thick walls, the bottles benefited from a stable temperature and high humidity level, two essential factors for preserving the quality of the wine over such a long period.

The state of preservation of the collection was confirmed in 2016 through the use of a Coravin device, which allows for sampling without removing the cork or altering the contents. Analysis showed that several bottles had retained remarkable qualities despite more than a century of aging.

The restoration work included replacing some corks that had become fragile. However, the French experts took great care to preserve the historical authenticity of each bottle, even retaining the dust accumulated over the decades to maintain their original appearance.

This collection now constitutes a rare testimony to European wine history. Beyond their oenological value, these bottles also tell a story marked by war, exile, and the preservation of a long-forgotten heritage.

Now on display in the cellars of Bečov Castle, this rediscovered treasure offers visitors a unique glimpse into the world of great wines from the late 19th century and the turbulent history of Central Europe.