Mystery Wine

This query appeared on the rec.crafts.winemaking group. I'm taking the liberty of reposting it here because I think it's more likely that one of the a.f.w. regulars will be able to figure it out. I'm curious about the wine too. (I wish he'd indicated the color and shape of the glass, as well as whether it appears to be red or white wine.)

Tom S

There is no label on the wine, it came from a shipwreck that I know when it sunk But am unable to locate a manifest for.

The only identifing marks are the cork, which have the following on it.

One stamp is as follows,

**ELINARIS Company Limited.

Where the ** is letters that I cannot make out.

On the opposite side is an oval with writing around it and a symbol in the center. The symbol is not identifible and only part of the writing is legible.

It has the following...

B**NNE

POLLI**

Is there anyone out there that could help me to determine the contents?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Stephen

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The "limited" makes me believe the "wine" was probably bottled by a company in the British Empire at the time. But are we sure the bottle even contains wine as we know it? There were all sorts of medicinal wines and tonics made back then. Many were in large bottles and used corks. For example, I looked at a copy of a 1897 Sears catalog. They offer many things in bottles that might be confused with a wine bottle if labels were removed. One jewel is Peruvian Wine of Coca. The active ingredient is cocaine from an extract of coca leaves. I quote: "If you wish to accomplish double the amount of work or have to undergo an unusual amount of hardship always keep a bottle of our Peruvian Wine of Coca near you." Beef ,iron and wine was also sold as a tonic. Bitters were common including orange wine stomach bitters. There also were several very non-wine items such as spirits of turpentine that were sold in large bottles that might be confused with a wine bottle. Other items that could not be sold today include tincture of opium and arsenic complexion pills, but these were sold in containers that would not be confused with a wine bottle.

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