Moldova

Vinaria “Milestii Mici”- is the national- cultural heritage of the Republic of Moldova and was founded in 1969. It is situated near the Milestii Mici village, half-hour ride from Chisinau. Very long time ago here, settled the people who built dwellings from the limestone mined in underground galleries. The climate of the zone is moderately continental. Winters are short and soft, summers – warm and long. The hills and the slopes of Milestii Mici village are washed by the Isnovet River. The warm days and the sufficient humidity are the positive factors that facilitate the cultivation of the European types of grapes and the outstanding ripening of grapes. The history of founding Vinaria “Milestii Mici” is harmoniously connected with few fundamental components: on the one hand outstanding winemaking materials for the production of high quality wines, excellent oak barrels for their endurance and ideal conditions for giving the wines noble and precious qualities and on the other hand wine making traditions and the art of the employees.

The first parties of wine were brought into the galleries at the end of the sixties and the results exceeded all expectations. The limestone played the role of a natural accumulator of constant humidity (85-95%) and temperature (+12–+14ºC) throughout the year. As the longer the wines are stored in such ideal conditions, the better their qualities. The wines are being brought to the enterprise for many decades, and it is only there when they become a splendid collection and high quality wines. Vinaria “Milestii Mici” was found as a mini-complex for storing, preserving and maturing high quality wines. The small amounts of wine (not more than 100 th. dal.) produced at the primary processing grapes factory were stored in oak barrels and enameled steel tanks, in cool and quiet wine cellars. The obtained high quality wines were appreciated by experts and normal consumers. During the years the enterprise changed its name and its status several times. At the moment it is a State Enterprise specialized in the production, storage and sales of alcoholic drinks. Their qualities strike with their wise perfection, which beneficially reflects the image of Moldavian wines as a whole.

The production potential of the enterprise is being improved day by day. Every year the specialists of the enterprise select the best Moldavian wines and work with them, increasing their qualities and properties. The total length of the galleries is more than 200 kilometers (55 kilometers of which are used and explored). The depth of the mines vary from 30 to 85 meters. The big barrels are prepared from Crimean and Krasnodar oak. Their capacity varies from 600 to 2000 dal. In the same time enterprise presents a tourist interest and it is a part of “Wine Way”. The activity in this domain is assured by the Tourist Department, which is collaborating with many tourist agencies. Each day the winery is visited by the native and foreign visitors at different levels, such as official delegates at the highest level or ordinary tourists who are especially interested in wines and in underground town “Milestii Mici”. In 2006 there were 18000 tourists. The groups are led by guides who are specialists in wine technology, foreign languages and national traditions.

The “Golden Collection” Milestii Mici is the pride of not only our enterprise, but also the whole country. In August, 2005, it was registered in the Guiness Book of Records for being the biggest Wine Collection in the world. It contains over two million bottles of wine highly appreciated by the winemakers from all over the world. The lucky guests who enter it, are given the opportunity to walk through the dark avenues and streets with rows and niches where big barrels are placed and precious bottles carefully laid down. The labels with maps, covered with spider web and sealed with wax give you the feeling that you pass into another strange and beautiful world, into another old century.

The production with the trademark “Milestii Mici” is popular in Moldova, and also exported to the USA, Japan, Great Britain, Czech Republic, Poland, Greece, Belarus, Ukraine, etc. At different international and national contests, the enterprise achieved two Grand Prix awards and over 100 medals for the majority of its wines, and also 2 medals (gold and silver) at the international contest from Bruxelles in 2003. In 2005 at the Interdrink Contest from Moscow enterprise acquired 2 gold medals “Grand Prix” and the special award Journalist Sympathy. For years consecutively Vinaria “Milestii Mici” got the first prize Gold Mercury at the Trade Marc of the year contest. The state prize for the realization in quality, production and competitive domain, in 2004 and 2005 got the nomination of Laureate II grade and the title the Best Tax Payer of the year. The precious award remains the consumer appreciation and satisfaction, and their number is growing each day.

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(Source: www.eufinancemags.com )