If you are a wine enthusiast, the chances are that you enjoy collecting wine. Whether this be storing a few bottles in your fridge at home or investing in professional storage, wine collections can vary from size and the amount of maintenance it needs. It can also dictate where you go on holiday… do you prefer a Spanish red over an Australian white?
But how large can wine collections become? Well take a look at some of these!
Milestii Mici: 2,000,000 bottles
Stretching 250 kilometres across underground Moldova, Milestii Mici is the worlds largest wine collection in the world. Recognised by The Guinness Book of World Records in 2005, visitors need a car to explore this underground winery that is organised by ‘streets’, and the staff rely on bikes to get around. This vast cellar complex contains 70% red wines, 20% white wines and 10% dessert wines and has just celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2019.
Bern’s Steakhouse: 750,000 bottles
As one of the most respected wine collections in the world, Bern’s Steakhouse has more than 6800 different wine selections, and stores over three quarters of a million bottles in their cellar. Opened in 1956, this Florida restaurant has gained a cult following and now, diners can choose from over 200 table wines served by the glass with vintages to 1973.
Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo: 350,000 bottles
Whilst this may not be the largest wine collection in the world, it certainly is the most exclusive. With a support team of just 10 people, Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo stores some of the most remarkable wines, and over 50% of them are from the Bordeaux region. Whilst the winery is not open to the public, guests can taste a selection at the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurants or book a private dining experience accompanied by the hotel’s master sommelier.
The Graycliff: 275,000 bottles
Described as ‘a connoisseur’s dream’, The Graycliff is a world-renowned wine cellar based in a historic 18th century mansion. As the Caribbean’s largest wine cellar, the inventory holds over 275,000 bottles, from over 5000 vintners in 20 countries, with some of the rarest bottles including an 1865 Château Lafite and a 1727 Rüdesheimer Apostelwein.
Marqués de Riscal’s “Cathedral”: 135,000 bottles
With stone cellars that date back over a century, Marqués de Riscal is one of the most amazing chateaus of France and the Rioja regions landmark wine producer. Founded in 1958, this wine collection is comprised of three buildings. Guests can view a sample of its full inventory in ‘The Cathedral’, which is an alternate name lovingly given to this wine cellar. With vintages dating back to the 1862 and the original Bodega 1860 cellar, this is truly one of the most spectacular collections living up to the great winemaking traditions of Rioja Alavesa.
Restaurant Latour: 100,000 bottles
Gene Mulvihill’s enormous wine collection is displayed at the four-star Crystal Springs Resort, featuring ‘no fillers’ according to Muvihill. This New Jersey restaurant houses over 5100 labels that focus on France, Italy and California, alongside nuclear magnetic resonance technology laboratory which helps analyse the wines without disruption. As well as booking a private tour of the Bordeaux and Grand Cru rooms, guests can also explore the cellar daily.
Brush Creek Ranch: 30,000 bottles
The Farm is a restaurant, distillery, brewery and incredible wine cellar within the Brush Creek Ranch. Whilst they primarily store wines from the Bordeaux region here, the collection features wines from South America, California, Washington and Champagne too. Gretchen Allen, the head sommelier, hopes to grow the space to 100,000 bottles and encourages guests to select a bottle from their collection to pour as it ‘highlights every nuance found within these rarities’.
