A 2021 Private-Sale Announcement
Wine aged in space brought together two subjects that caught our attention at RocketBreaks. In May 2021, we highlighted a Live Science article by Brandon Specktor about a bottle of Pétrus 2000. However, the story was about a historical private-sale announcement, rather than an ordinary bottle on a shop shelf.
Christie’s announced the offering on 4 May 2021. According to its press release, Space Cargo Unlimited sent 12 bottles to the International Space Station in November 2019. They returned to Earth in January 2021 after around 14 months in orbit.
The Research Behind Wine Aged in Space
The bottles travelled as part of a research programme. In particular, the project looked at how space conditions could help researchers study questions about agriculture and food. Therefore, the bottles had a scientific role as well as a collecting appeal.
Christie’s described a presentation case that paired the space-travelled bottle with a terrestrial Pétrus 2000. In addition, the set included glasses, a decanter and a corkscrew made from a meteorite. The announced sale aimed to support further research and space missions.
Wine Aged in Space: Read the Original Announcement
For the primary source, read Christie’s 2021 press release. Meanwhile, the linked Live Science report offers the story that first drew our attention. This article records that announcement and does not confirm a final sale price or current availability.
Explore More Unusual Space Stories
Wine aged in space shows how spaceflight can reach beyond the familiar stories of rockets and astronauts. To discover more examples, browse RocketBreaks news. Alternatively, explore our Earth-based space experiences to find another way to connect with space.