UNION, N.J. (AP) — A restoration project at a New Jersey museum unearthed cases of wine nearly as old as the United States.
The Liberty Hall Museum in Union says it discovered almost three full cases of Madeira wine, a fortified wine, dating to 1796 while restoring its wine cellar. NJ.com (
http://bit.ly/2sHP4uh ) reports the museum also found 42 demijohns — large glass jugs sometimes used for holding spirits — dating to the 1820s.
The museum said the monetary value of the wine cannot be made public.
The original 13 colonies imported about 95 percent of the wine produced on the Portuguese archipelago of Madeira, according to historical accounts. Bill Schroh, Liberty Hall's director of operations, said Madeira was the best wine to ship during the 18th century because it almost never spoils — even centuries later if stored properly.
Read more at:
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-jersey/articles/2017-07-10/museum-restoration-project-unearths-revolutionary-era-wine