On April 30, 2024, an astonishing video surfaced online, claiming to show a bottle of wine recovered from the Titanic wreckage selling for a staggering $1.4 million at auction. This rumor quickly went viral across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X, capturing the imagination of millions. The story of this supposed auction not only highlights how easily misinformation spreads but also taps into the enduring fascination with the Titanic disaster and its artifacts.
The video featured a man in a suit jacket delicately opening a wine bottle covered in marine organisms, which many viewers believed was a historic relic. Other clips showcased crates of wine allegedly retrieved from the Titanic, which sank after striking an iceberg on April 14, 1912, resulting in the tragic loss of around 1,500 lives. Given the Titanic's storied past, it's no surprise that such a claim would attract significant attention.
One of the most popular versions of the video amassed nearly 7 million views, shared by TikTok user @momentsgang on May 1. The on-screen caption boldly proclaimed, "Original Sealed Bottle of Wine Retrieved from the Titanic Sold for $1.4M at Auction." However, as this rumor circulated, Snopes began investigating the claim to determine its authenticity.
Despite the video's authenticity, Snopes rated the rumor as "Miscaptioned." While the video was genuine and not altered, it did not depict a bottle of wine that was actually sold for $1.4 million. A thorough search revealed no news articles confirming any such auction or even a legitimate product named "Oceanic Reserve Champagne" from "Maritime Vineyards." This raises questions about the credibility of the claims presented in the video.
Our investigation into the video's origins included comprehensive reverse-image searches and in-depth online exploration. Initially, our efforts yielded little success until we stumbled upon a crucial link in the search results that directed us to the truth. The banner seen in the viral video matched the design of a bottle from the SSN01 Classic, a product of the Seafloor Storage No.1 wine company based in Yantai, China. This company claims to have a unique wine-making process that involves six months of oak aging followed by twelve months of undersea storage at a depth of 18 meters (59 feet).
According to the official website, the Golden Times Winery supplies the grapes for this wine, limiting production to 50,000 bottles annually. We reached out to the company for further information but have yet to receive a response. Intriguingly, the company's online presence is limited, featuring only two blog posts from 2019 and 2020, both discussing a Wine Culture Festival in China.
While the wine company remains somewhat of a mystery, we have not been able to identify the individuals featured in the viral video or pinpoint the event's location and date. This lack of information only adds to the intrigue surrounding the video and the claims made within it.
In addition to the viral rumor, it's worth noting that actual champagne bottles were discovered intact at the Titanic wreck site. According to a 1994 article in the British newspaper Evening Sentinel, ocean explorers found champagne bottles with corks still secured, shedding light on the ship's luxurious past.
A genuine, still-sealed bottle of champagne photographed at 'Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition.' (Photo by Frank Mullen/WireImage)
French scientist Jean-Louis Michel and marine geologist Robert Ballard led the joint expedition that discovered the Titanic wreck in 1985. They uncovered the wreck approximately 350 miles from Newfoundland, resting nearly 12,500 feet deep in the North Atlantic. Notably, on July 19, 1986, it was reported that the expedition crew found various artifacts, including champagne bottles that were likely prepared for a toast when the Titanic met its fate.
As we delve deeper into this subject, it's essential to recognize the importance of verifying such claims. Misinformation can easily circulate online, causing confusion and misleading the public. By understanding the facts surrounding the Titanic's artifacts and the rumors that surround them, we can foster a more informed discourse about history and its remnants.
For those interested in learning more about the Seafloor Storage No.1 wine company and its products, we recommend checking out additional resources, including an article on the Chinese-language website cnmjz.com and two features from min.news. Furthermore, it’s crucial to remember that while rumors can be captivating, they should always be approached with skepticism unless supported by credible evidence.
Interestingly, in 2018, a rumor surfaced about a wealthy Asian collector purportedly purchasing six bottles of champagne recovered from the Titanic wreck. Additionally, an article from the Chicago Tribune published shortly after the Titanic expedition detailed the wine and champagne bottles that were originally on board the ship when it sank.
As we continue to explore the legacy of the Titanic and its artifacts, we must remember that not all stories told about the ship are grounded in reality. By critically examining claims and seeking out trustworthy information, we can gain a clearer understanding of the past.
Note: Translations with Google Translate can sometimes introduce errors, and some websites have referred to the Chinese-made wine as "Haizang No. 1" from "Yantai Age Wine Co., Ltd."
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