Castel Mimi’s History
Castel Mimi represents one of the showcases of winemaking heritage in the Republic of Moldova. Castel Mimi is a sixth-generation family business and was included in the top 15 most beautiful chateaux in the world by Winerist, a wine and food travel marketplace. In 2022, the winery was named “The Visiting Card of the Republic of Moldova” at the Wine Travel Awards in London, Great Britain.
The winery was initially established in 1893 by Constantin Mimi, a graduate of the Institute for Higher Education in Vine and Wine (IHEV) at L'Institut Agro, Montpellier. Mimi was among the first winemakers to popularize high-quality French grape varieties in Bessarabia, at the time part of the Russian Empire. Additionally, the chateau was the first building in present-day Moldova constructed with steel-reinforced concrete.
Between 2011 and 2016, the Castle and the winery underwent complete restoration and were endowed with an eco-tourism complex. This project was carried out by Arnaldo Tranti. During the restoration work, several hidden galleries and chambers were discovered, containing unique objects, such as bottles of rose petal oil essence.
Tranti struck a sublime balance between antiquity and modernity, combining modern trends of architecture and design with local symbolism and traditional Moldovan building materials he found during his multiple trips through some of Moldova's most remote villages. Signs and symbols from the Cucuteni Culture (5500-3500 BC), the oldest confirmed European civilization, were used as architectural and decorative elements.
Castel Mimi’s Wines
The production lines at Castel Mimi were modernized in the 2000s, contributing to an annual production of over half a million bottles of wine. The grapes used in the production of Castel Mimi wines are grown only in the central area of Moldova, in close proximity to the Nistru River. Specific climate conditions create unique grapes, which are processed using high-performance European machinery for fermentation.
The finest wines are matured in the winery's historic cellars, where the temperature is kept constant at 12 degrees Celsius, thanks to the thickness of the chateau's walls, which reach 1.5 meters at the base of the building. Currently, these cellars house a thousand barrels, mostly made of French oak, brought from the Bordeaux region. The maturation period ranges from six months to 36 months, with some wines having a lifespan of over 20 years.
Castel Mimi currently produces over 80 different labels, including wines, liqueurs, and spirits, whose popularity continues to grow in international markets. Castel Mimi products are exported to around 20 countries, with the majority distributed in the EU, China, and Japan.
Castel Mimi's wines are known for their blends, including Sânzienele (The Fairies), Frați (Brothers), and the emblematic Roşu de Bulboaca (The Red of Bulboaca). The Governor wine series, created to honor the memory of Castel Mimi's founder, will be served at the European Political Community summit on 1 June 2023.