The President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, gave a special mention to the Castel Mimi team for the impeccable organization of the European Political Community Summit

This weekend brought special recognition to the Castel Mimi team, with the awarding of a Diploma of Honour by President Maia Sandu, in appreciation of their outstanding efforts in organising this important event. This week, each member of the Castel Mimi team will receive a copy of this diploma in recognition of their dedication and commitment.

The 200-strong team worked around the clock to ensure that the more than 2175 guests of Mimi Castle from 49 countries were delighted with Moldovan hospitality. This mission was successfully accomplished and brought invaluable value to Mimi Castle and the entire country.

With a history of 130 years, Castel Mimi has become a symbol of excellence in the Moldovan wine industry over the past decade. From being a dying Soviet winery, Mimi Castle has been reborn and recognized as one of the most beautiful and impressive castles in the world. The Telegraph called it the “Versailles of Moldova”, and its presence in the top of the most beautiful wineries in the world confirms the quality and beauty of this remarkable place.

The history of Mimi Castle began with the dream of Constantin Mimi, who graduated from the prestigious Ecole Supérieure d’Agronomie in Montpellier, France. Inspired by his experience in the Bordeaux region, he decided to build an authentic French-style winery in Bessarabia. In 1893, he began construction of the Bulboaca winery, using innovative techniques for the time, such as reinforced concrete and one-and-a-half metre thick walls, which remain to this day, housing record quantities of wine barrels. Constantin Mimi brought French grape varieties to Bessarabia, contributing to the international recognition of the quality of Moldovan wines.

After the heyday of the 1980s, when the Bulboaca winery produced 9 million bottles of wine a month, Castel Mimi fell on hard times and went bankrupt in the late 1990s. Through the sustained efforts of the Trofim family, the current owners, the winery was reborn and focused on the production of distillates and premium wines.

Adrian Trofim, CEO of Castel Mimi: “The decision to rediscover the old castle building, under a layer of plaster more than ten centimetres thick, was taken by the entire Trofim family, after several researches on the life and activity of Constantin Mimi, carried out in archives in Chisinau, Bender, St. Petersburg and several European cities”.

The restoration and reconstruction of Mimi Castle began in 2011, in collaboration with Italian architect Arnaldo Tranti. The work lasted several years and included analysis of archives and interviews with village elders in order to restore the castle’s facade to its original appearance.

Today, Mimi Castle impresses with its beauty and magnificence, occupying an area of six hectares, which includes a museum, an art gallery, a hotel, luxury bungalows, event rooms and a restaurant. The entire area is surrounded by picturesque landscapes and is adorned by over five thousand trees and shrubs.

Castel Mimi is not only a popular tourist destination, but also a modern wine producer. With around 1000 barrels and an expansion capacity of up to 3000 barrels, the winery produces over 500 thousand bottles of wine annually, which are exported to 18 countries around the world. Castel Mimi’s wines have won 206 medals at the most prestigious international wine competitions, cementing its reputation as an exceptional producer.

Through its activity, Castel Mimi contributes to regional development and the promotion of Moldovan culture. The Constantin Mimi Foundation, in collaboration with various governmental and international organisations, has organised over 100 events to promote culture and the country, supporting the development of the tourism sector and attracting investment to the region.

Cristina Frolov, President of the Constantin Mimi Foundation, said: “The organisation of the European Political Community meeting at Mimi Castle is the result of investments made throughout the entire activity of the Bulboaca winery. It is one of the most effective ways to promote the Republic of Moldova and a powerful catalyst for attracting investment to the region”.

The appreciation and commendation offered by President Maia Sandu to the Castel Mimi team underlines the quality and professionalism with which they managed the organisation of the European Political Community Summit. This recognition is an important step in strengthening Moldova’s position as a tourist destination and producer of high quality wines.