Oldest Wines In The World (What is it & How Old)

A lot of onus is placed on how long a wine can age and how long a bottle of wine can last.

But what are some of the bottles of wine that have defied all odds and lasted for longer than they should have?

What are the oldest wines in the world?

What Is The Oldest Wine In The World?

The oldest wine in the world is believed to be the Speyer Wine Bottle which has been dated as far back as 325 - 350 AD.

That’s an impressively old vintage!

The bottle remains unopened with the liquid inside only surviving because of how well sealed the bottle was by the Romans who made it. Impressive stuff.

So we’ve heard of the 7 wonders of the world, but what are the 7 oldest wines in the world? How far does wine go back?

7 Oldest Wines In The World

Let’s take a look at the seven oldest wines in the world (that we know of!)

1. Speyer Wine

We’ve mentioned that the oldest wine in the world is called the Speyer Wine Bottle and has been traced back to the Roman empire. Makes your 25 year old bottle of Tawny Port look like a spring chicken in comparison.

2. Strasbourg Wine 

Next up, the Strasbourg Wine Barrel dates back to 1472. Located in the wine cellar under the Strasbourg city hospital, the barrel is marked with the date 1472 and believe it or not the wine is still drinkable.

3. Tokaji 

A bottle of Tokaji from the Royal Saxon Cellars has been dated back to the years 1650 - 1690 and is believed to be the oldest intact bottle of Hungarian Tokaji wine in the world. Quite the claim to fame.

4. Rüdesheimer Apostelwein

Meanwhile in Germany the Rüdesheimer Apostelwein is a bottle of wine from Bremen which has been dated back to 1727. The wine is currently valued at $200 000 and is considered to be one of the rarest wines in existence.

5. Massandra Sherry de la Frontera

An exquisitely rare bottle of Massandra Sherry de la Frontera has been dated back to 1775 and recently sold at auction for $43 500, making it the most expensive bottle of Sherry in the world.

6. Chateau Margeaux in France

The reputation of Chateau Margeaux in France is something to behold, and its oldest bottle of wine dates back to the year 1787.

It is known as the most expensive bottle of wine that was never sold, the prized bottle was sadly dropped and broken at a party held by its owners.

7. Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1787

Last, but not least, a bottle ofChateau Lafite Rothschild 1787 is officially the most expensive bottle of wine ever sold at $156,450 and rumour has it that the wine once belonged to Thomas Jefferson himself.

Summary

And there we have it!

The oldest wine bottles in the history of winemaking.

Hopefully now you feel less precious about opening a bottle of something you’ve been keeping for a mere couple of years. It's always best to make sure you can enjoy your wine yourself at its best, after all.