The Ultimate Winery in Moldova
In the small eastern European country of Moldova lies a hidden gem. As one of the least visited countries in Europe it is no surprise that few people know about Milestii Mici, an underground winery that could be home to an entire city. Originally a mine, this site has a colorful history dating back before the Second World War. In 1965 it was wisely converted into a wine cellar capable of storing wine not just in great conditions but substantial quantities.
It set the Guinness book of world records for most bottles of wine, 1.5 million back in 2005. To say that it is a large winery would be a huge understatement. Milestii Mici is a tour best taken by car since the total length is 200 kilometers (120 miles). Each tour must arrive in their own car or taxi (with room for the tour guide) and reservations are necessary. Enjoy packages from a variety of courses or snacks with wine pairing, accompanied by local musicians serenading you in the unique setting.
With over 45 years of experience this winery is not just famous for being large. They have accomplished 76 medals at different competitions. Winemaking is the primary occupation of Moldavians and during a prosperous period in the late 1980s, a ‘Golden Collection’ was formed including bottles of Pinot, Traminer, Muscat, Riesling, Feteasca, Codru,Trandafirul Moldovie, Utreneaia Rosa, and more. “In each drop of these drinks is felt the fire of sun and vigor of earth.”
The constant temperature of 12-14 Celsius and high relative humidity ideally contributes to the storage of their own handcrafted wines as well as some of the best harvests of other wines. These perfect conditions for aging bottles allows some reds to improve and mature beautifully. Certain wines might be cellared for decades before being sold. For the true connoisseur, space in the Milestii Mici wine cellar is available for rent. Allow that exquisite red to age for a special occasion down the road and enjoy it to its fullest.
