An ongoing restoration project at a Union County museum has unearthed cases of wine nearly as old as the United States of America.

The Liberty Hall Museum in Union says it discovered almost three full cases of Madeira wine dating back to 1796 while restoring their wine cellar. Madeira is a fortified wine.

“We found that we have about eight different varieties of Madeira,” says museum director of operations Bill Schroh.

The museum also found 42 demijohns - glass jugs that can hold gallons of spirits - dating back to the 1820s.

Schroh says Madeira was the best wine to ship during the 18th century because it almost never spoils - even centuries later if stored properly.

Liberty Hall President John Kean says he's sampled the wine and compared it to a sweet sherry.

Similar bottles of wine have sold at auction for several thousands of dollars per bottle.

The Liberty Hall Museum was once home to New Jersey’s prominent Kean family.