The remarkable wine collection of New Jersey’s first governor, William Livingston, was uncovered recently when his historic home, that is now a museum, began doing renovations. Some of the bottles of wine that were uncovered are nearly as old as America itself.

Livingston served the State of New Jersey from 1776 to 1790. The discovery of wine shows that Livingston drank some of the best wine available of the time, but it had remained hidden in almost plain sight for hundreds of years.

Museum Operations Director Bill Schroh says the Liberty Hall Museum at Kean University was undergoing a six month restoration when the wine was uncovered. He says it was definitely an “oh my gosh” moment.

Three cases of Madeira wine dating back to 1796 and 42 demijohns cased in wicker were also found dating back to the 1820’s. The wine cellar, where the bottles were discovered, hadn’t been looked over since 1949. During the renovation, the crates were discovered covered in dust, and hidden in plain sight.

The wine collection appears to have been shipped to John Kean and then rebottled and labeled after coming to America. The wine was tested for authenticity and found to be the real deal. Madeira was one of the most distinguished wines of the British Colony and by the time of the American Revolution it had become a wine of compelling character. It achieved a place in American culture and history.

After the renovations were completed, the wine and wooden crates were put on display at the museum. Schroh says that some was kept in the antique wine cages, but some of have been put on display along with racks and inside the wine cellar. He says they are attracting a lot of visitors.