Mileștii Mici

The galleries beneath Mileștii Mici were not built for wine. Stone extraction began here in 1886, and the limestone quarried from these tunnels was later used to rebuild Chișinău after World War II. In 1969, the State Enterprise Quality Wines Industrial Complex was formally established, converting the abandoned galleries into one of the most ambitious wine storage projects ever undertaken. The tunnels, carved 40-85 meters below the surface, offered a naturally stable environment that no above-ground cellar could replicate.

• Stone extraction in the galleries began in 1886
• Limestone from the tunnels helped reconstruct Chișinău after World War II
• Converted to wine cellar and formally founded as a state enterprise in 1969
• The Golden Collection was established in 1969 alongside the enterprise

The total tunnel network stretches 200 km, of which 55 km are actively used for wine production and storage. Gallery dimensions run 6.5-7.5 meters wide and 3.5 meters high, wide enough that visitors can tour by electric train, car, bicycle, or on foot. The underground streets are named after grape varieties, including Cabernet, Feteasca, Pinot, Sauvignon, and Codru. A small seismological station was installed within the galleries in the 1990s. Storage capacity reaches over 40 million liters across tanks, alongside the bottled Golden Collection.

• Total network: 200 km of tunnels; 55 km in active use
• Gallery width: 6.5-7.5 meters; height: 3.5 meters
• Streets named after grape varieties including Cabernet, Feteasca, Pinot, and Sauvignon
• A seismological monitoring station operates within the galleries

The limestone geology delivers conditions that are difficult to engineer artificially above ground. Temperature underground holds constant at 12-14°C (54-57°F) year-round, while humidity sits between 85-95%. These stable conditions create ideal long-term preservation for both bottled wines and bulk storage, allowing the collection to develop without temperature fluctuation or light exposure. The oldest wine in the Golden Collection dates to 1973, and the collection has been maintained continuously since the enterprise's founding year.

• Constant underground temperature: 12-14°C (54-57°F)
• Humidity maintained at 85-95%
• Depth ranges from 40 to 85 meters below the surface
• Oldest bottle in the collection dates to 1973

Mileștii Mici produces wines across multiple styles: dry table wines, collection wines, sparkling wines made via the Charmat method, dessert wines, and liqueur wines. The estate grows both international varieties and indigenous Moldovan grapes. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and Sauvignon Blanc sit alongside Feteasca Alba, Feteasca Neagra, Viorica, and Riton. The collection is composed of more than 70% red wines, around 20% white wines, and approximately 10% dessert wines. Wines are exported to Sweden, Japan, the USA, Great Britain, Czech Republic, Poland, Greece, Germany, Denmark, Finland, and China.

• Indigenous varieties grown include Feteasca Alba, Feteasca Neagra, Viorica, and Riton
• International varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc
• Sparkling wines are produced using the Charmat method
• Wines fall under the Codru PGI appellation

Mileștii Mici received its Guinness World Record in August 2005 for the largest wine collection in the world by bottle count, and was simultaneously designated National Cultural Heritage of Moldova. The enterprise draws over 20,000 tourists annually, with total documented visitor figures reaching 45,000. The most prized bottles in the collection are from the 1973-74 vintages, valued at €480 per bottle and exported exclusively to Japan. The facility is located in the commune of Mileștii Mici within the Ialoveni district, 15-20 km south of the capital Chișinău.

• Guinness World Record awarded in August 2005 for largest wine collection by bottle count
• National Cultural Heritage designation received in 2005
• 1973-74 vintages are the most valuable at €480 per bottle, sold only in Japan
• Attracts over 20,000 tourists annually