What a topical query!

My knowledge dates to later decades in teh century, but they might be
leads.. Champagne was commonly served as the proper accompaniment to the
fish course of a proper, multi-course dinner.  It was also a common before
dinner drink, if you were of a certain station in the world.  Obviously, its
presence has class implications, but it did appear often in teh glasses of
the well-to-do.

Juliette Rogers
Stephen Phillips Trust House
Salem MA

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Finney, Susan E Cooper
Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2002 11:10 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: champagne in the 1830s & 1840s


The Michigan Historical Museum is installing an exhibit about an
unidentified wreck on the Great Lakes circa 1840.
It was a working schooner in the fishing trade (no identifying marks as to
the specific vessel) and all of the information about the wreck is based on
archaelogical research. Its cargo was fish & salt in barrels. It may have
occasionally carried paying passengers and would have had a crew of 3 or 4.
Problematical are the champagne bottles & 1 beer bottle found in the stern
cabin.

We have a couple of questions about why these bottles (particularly the
champagne) may have been found on the wreck.
1. Was champagne more common than other kinds of wine in this time period?
2. Was it used as more of a table-wine than as a celebration drink?

If anyone can help with these questions, we would deeply appreciate it.

Thanks all!

Sincerely,

Susan E. Cooper Finney
Exhibit Designer
Michigan Historical Museum
Lansing, Michigan

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