BUCHAREST, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- Moldova's underground wineries, Cricova and Milestii Mici, have been included in UNESCO's tentative list, marking a key step toward potential World Heritage status, the Culture Ministry announced on Thursday.
According to the ministry, the recognition underscores the wineries' cultural, architectural, and environmental significance. Known for vast underground galleries and extensive wine collections, the wineries represent an exceptional adaptation of industrial heritage for winemaking and tourism, reflecting Moldova's deep-rooted wine culture.
Inclusion in the tentative list is the first stage of the nomination process, which typically takes 5 to 10 years. Moldova's only UNESCO-listed site to date is the Struve Geodetic Arc, a transnational scientific heritage landmark. ■
