The 25th edition of National Wine Day made history: a world record and new national records

A world record, new national records and an event that brought people from dozens of countries to the centre of Chișinău. The 25th edition of National Wine Day, held on 3 and 4 October under the slogan “The wine that unites us”, turned the 25th-anniversary celebrations into an event that will go down in history.

On the first day of the event, 493 people formed the world’s largest human representation of a vine in the Great National Assembly Square, a feat confirmed by Guinness World Records. The human vine, stretching approximately 39 metres, became the symbolic image of the anniversary edition and of the message “The wine that unites us”.

The world record was followed by new national records: 114 wineries were present at the event – eight more than in 2025 – and the public purchased 14,000 Taster’s Booklets, approximately 55% more than last year. Over the two days, 116,880 tastings were recorded – 32,233 more than at the previous edition and, for the first time, exceeding the 100,000 mark.

But the records did not stop at the figures in the tasting booklets. The anniversary edition took Moldovan wine even further afield, attracting tourists from over 70 countries, who came to Chișinău to discover the wines, cuisine and culture of the Republic of Moldova. Visitors included tourists from Israel, Denmark, Norway, Romania, Greece, Canada and the United States of America.

For maib, the event’s main partner alongside Mastercard, this edition was yet another occasion on which the bank stood alongside the people and companies building Moldova’s wine sector.

Macar Stoianov, Deputy Chairman of maib, said:

“For nine years, maib and Mastercard have been supporting National Wine Day. I would like to thank our partners at Mastercard and the organisers for this long-standing collaboration and for the joy of coming together year after year to celebrate Moldovan wine. At this 25th edition, the message “The wine that unites us” is evident right here in the people who come together, in the stories they share and in the pride we take in celebrating together everything we have created here, at home.”

Over the course of the two days, the centre of the capital became a space dedicated to Moldovan wine, bringing together producers, industry professionals, locals and international visitors. 114 producers presented their wines, and the public were able to take part in Wine School sessions, guided tours led by sommeliers, gastronomic experiences and activities for the whole family.

White wines were the most popular, with 44,686 tastings, followed by red wines, with 34,658, and sparkling wines, with 21,022. All five wine categories recorded increases compared with the previous edition, whilst rosé wines saw a rise of approximately 63%.

For maib, its involvement in the wine sector extends beyond the two days of the festival. 61.6% of sales by companies in the wine sector are made by firms served by maib, and the bank provides financial support across the entire value chain of the industry.

Between 2025 and 2026, maib provided companies in the sector with financing totalling 369 million lei, of which 160 million lei was for investment. The maib ecosystem comprises 183 companies in the wine supply chain, including 17 of Moldova’s 30 largest producers.

“The wine that unites us” was not just the slogan of the 25th edition. It was, quite literally, what happened in the heart of the capital: Moldova met the world, and the world discovered Moldova through wine.

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