The World's Largest Wine Collections: When a Bottle Becomes History

Wine is not just a drink. It is time, land, human labour, and history bottled up. It is no coincidence that the world's largest wine collections are considered as valuable as art galleries or archives of ancient books. 

Some of them are accessible only to the select few, while others are open to curious visitors.

Wine cellars that hold the world

1. Hotel de Paris, Monaco

In Monte Carlo, more than 350,000 bottles are stored in the cellar of the legendary Hotel de Paris. This cellar was established in the 19th century and can only be accessed with the permission of the hotel sommelier. 

The collection includes not only wines from the most famous Bordeaux châteaux, but also extremely rare champagnes, such as Dom Pérignon from historic vintages. The bottles are stored in sealed cellars that can only be opened for high-ranking guests, such as when Formula 1 races are held in Monaco or royalty is visiting.

2. Bern's Steak House, USA

Bern's Steak House in Tampa, Florida, looks like a simple steakhouse, but behind the scenes lies one of the largest wine cellars in America, with around 600,000 bottles. The cellars resemble a labyrinth, and the sommeliers work as guides, leading guests through the world of wine history. 

The most impressive part is the antique bottles. Here you can still find Madeira wines from the 18th century that are still suitable for tasting. In addition, the restaurant buys thousands of new bottles every year, so the collection is constantly growing.

3. Milestii Mici, Moldova

In the heart of Moldova, near Chișinău, lies the impressive underground wine city of Milestii Mici. Here, wine cellars occupy around 200 km of underground tunnels, and the collection contains more than 1.5 million bottles. 

This collection is officially listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest in the world. Each tunnel is named after a grape variety – Cabernet, Chardonnay, or Pinot. 

Tourists travel here by car, as it would be impossible to walk through all the cellars on foot. The special atmosphere, with a year-round temperature of 12–14 °C, allows the wine to mature in ideal conditions.

4. Tokaj Cellar, Hungary

The Tokaj region of Hungary is a veritable treasure trove of wine history. Beneath the hills lie more than 30 kilometres of underground tunnels, dug in the Middle Ages. These cellars store the world's most famous dessert wines – Tokaji Aszú, which were called "the wine of kings and the king of wines" as early as the 17th century. 

The collections include bottles that are several centuries old, covered with a thick layer of noble mould, which naturally maintains the right humidity and temperature. The Tokaj cellars are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and visitors can not only explore the impressive underground wine city, but also taste the famous sweet wines, which are still among the most highly regarded in the world today.

Can I try some?

Some collections are open to visitors. Milestii Mici attracts thousands of tourists every year, who not only explore 200 km of tunnels, but also taste local Moldovan wines. Bern's Steak House offers guests the opportunity to taste wines from bottles that are several decades old. 

The Tokaj cellars in Hungary invite you on a journey through underground labyrinths, where you can try the legendary sweet Aszú wines that have been aged for centuries. Meanwhile, the Hotel de Paris in Monaco opens its cellars only for special occasions and exclusive guests – only a select few have the opportunity to taste the wines here.

Wine as a journey

The world's largest collections prove that wine is more than just a drink. It is a journey through time and cultures – from the tunnels of Moldova to the luxury of Monaco, from an American steakhouse to the UNESCO-protected cellars of Hungary. Every bottle here tells a story – about the harvest, the climate, the people, and the eras.

Even if you only have a few favourite bottles at home, you are already the creator of your own small collection. And who knows – maybe one day the bottles in your cellar will become as much a part of history as Milestii Mici or Tokaj.

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