Fancy a tipple? Almost 150-year-old bottle of port to be sold at Etwall auctioneers

Most people would throw away a drink that has been left on the side for more than a day, but what about 146 years?

It is a good job that the original owner of this bottle of port did not throw it away, as it is now being auctioned off in Etwall and is expected to fetch £250.

Hansons Auctioneers is selling the 146 year old bottle after it was discovered in the cellars of the Manor House in Bredon, Gloucestershire.

Port lovers will even have the chance to try it because the auction house has secured two bottles of the famous Portuguese fortified wine, dating back to 1871.

John Keightley is the fine wines and spirits valuer at Hansons Auctioneers and has already tasted the vintage wine and expressed his delight at the auction house selling the piece.

Mr Keightley said: “To think this port was made when Queen Victoria was on the throne. It was the year she opened London’s Albert Hall in fact, and the British prime minister at the time was William Gladstone.

“As you would expect this vintage port was extremely pleasant as port famously improves with age. It resembled a tawny port.

“To find such a vintage still in existence in a county house cellar is remarkable, though is still possible to buy Madeira port from the 1850s and vintage ports from, for example, the 1970s but, as you would expect, they are expensive.

“We have put an estimate of £150 to £250 on these two unmarked bottles of 1871 port.”

The 146-year-old port will go under the hammer at Hansons’ Wines, Whisky and Spirits auction on Monday, September 25. If you want any more information or think you have some fine old wines or spirits that you think could be sold, call Hansons Auctioneers on 01283 733988 or email service@hansonsauctioneers.co.uk .