The Mileștii Mici Wine Cellars, located just outside the capital city Chișinău, holds the world record for the world's largest wine collection - some two million bottles of wine are stored here. The complex is a former limestone mine with some 200km of passages. Just 55km of that complex is used for storing wine. That means there's a lot of underground space to explore here! I first became aware of this place some 8 years ago, but it has taken me this long to think of other reasons to visit Moldova.
Tourists are allowed, for a small fee, to see a small fraction of the complex - travelling underground on a toy train. That we did. Then afterwards we went naughty and found our way into the unused parts of the complex. This report is in two parts, firstly the bit that we were meant to see and then the bits that we really should not had done.
HISTORY
The State Enterprise Quality Wines Industrial Complex "Mileștii Mici" was founded in 1969 to store, preserve and mature high-quality wines using ancient limestone galleries. The limestone in the galleries maintains constant humidity (85–95%) and temperature 12–14°C throughout the year. The longer some specific red wines are stored in such ideal conditions, the more they improve. Some wines are cellared for several decades before being sold. The cellars extend for 200 kilometres, of which only 55 kilometres are currently in use.
In August 2005, Mileștii Mici was registered in the Guinness Book of World records as the biggest wine collection in the world. Overall, the complex holds nearly 2 million bottles. More than 70% of the stored wines are red, 20% are white and about 10% are dessert wines. The most valuable items of this collection, worth €480 a bottle, were produced in 1973–74; they are now exported only to Japan.
Wines are exported from Mileștii Mici to Sweden, Japan, the USA, Great Britain, the Czech Republic, Poland, Greece, Germany, Denmark, Finland, and China.
THE TOURISTY BITS
Anyone daft enough to pay £30 (a rip off price) is allowed to visit with an advanced booking. The tour takes about an hour and involves being driven underground on an electric toy train with the occassional stop. Note the huge 2000 decalitre oak barrels. At the furthest point in, the most expensive wines are stored in a pedestrianised area. Here the wealthy can rent a cubicle for 350 Euros a year, providing enough space for about 500 bottles. The actor Steven Seagal is said to have his wine collection stored here.
THE NOT TOURISTY BITS
This is more interesting. Wander around the local area and many entrances can be found. Sadly all were secured, but eventually we found one that was doable. According to the survey, all the entrances interlink underground so theoretically we could had made it to the live area that we had seen on the tourist tour but this was just a first quick peek. Right who's up to join me next year to drink Steven Seagal's wine collection?
Thanks for reading
Tourists are allowed, for a small fee, to see a small fraction of the complex - travelling underground on a toy train. That we did. Then afterwards we went naughty and found our way into the unused parts of the complex. This report is in two parts, firstly the bit that we were meant to see and then the bits that we really should not had done.
HISTORY
The State Enterprise Quality Wines Industrial Complex "Mileștii Mici" was founded in 1969 to store, preserve and mature high-quality wines using ancient limestone galleries. The limestone in the galleries maintains constant humidity (85–95%) and temperature 12–14°C throughout the year. The longer some specific red wines are stored in such ideal conditions, the more they improve. Some wines are cellared for several decades before being sold. The cellars extend for 200 kilometres, of which only 55 kilometres are currently in use.
In August 2005, Mileștii Mici was registered in the Guinness Book of World records as the biggest wine collection in the world. Overall, the complex holds nearly 2 million bottles. More than 70% of the stored wines are red, 20% are white and about 10% are dessert wines. The most valuable items of this collection, worth €480 a bottle, were produced in 1973–74; they are now exported only to Japan.
Wines are exported from Mileștii Mici to Sweden, Japan, the USA, Great Britain, the Czech Republic, Poland, Greece, Germany, Denmark, Finland, and China.
THE TOURISTY BITS
Anyone daft enough to pay £30 (a rip off price) is allowed to visit with an advanced booking. The tour takes about an hour and involves being driven underground on an electric toy train with the occassional stop. Note the huge 2000 decalitre oak barrels. At the furthest point in, the most expensive wines are stored in a pedestrianised area. Here the wealthy can rent a cubicle for 350 Euros a year, providing enough space for about 500 bottles. The actor Steven Seagal is said to have his wine collection stored here.
THE NOT TOURISTY BITS
This is more interesting. Wander around the local area and many entrances can be found. Sadly all were secured, but eventually we found one that was doable. According to the survey, all the entrances interlink underground so theoretically we could had made it to the live area that we had seen on the tourist tour but this was just a first quick peek. Right who's up to join me next year to drink Steven Seagal's wine collection?
Thanks for reading
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Nice work !
