KVINT, the divin distillery of Tiraspol since 1897

KVINT is a distillery and winery in Tiraspol, the main town of Transnistria, and the oldest company still operating in that region. It was founded in 1897 and has been making brandy since 1938, which it now sells as divin aged from 3 to 50 years. Because Transnistria is not internationally recognised, the bottles say 'Made in Moldova'.

Origins and history

KVINT started in 1897 as a rectification warehouse on a street near Tiraspol station. The company made 40% vodka from grape wine it bought in the surrounding villages. Only some forty years later did it switch to brandy: in 1938 the first wine spirits went into casks. The name is a Russian acronym meaning 'cognacs, wines and drinks of Tiraspol'.

In 2006 the company was privatised; it is owned by the Transnistrian conglomerate Sheriff. The distillery is pictured on the 5 Transnistrian rouble banknote and is seen as a symbol in the region. Because Transnistria is not a recognised state, the labels read 'Made in Moldova'.

How it is made

According to Visit.md, KVINT has more than thirty brands of divin, aged from 3 to 50 years, alongside table wines, vodka, gin and calvados. About 10 million litres of spirit, from 1 to 60 years old, are ageing in its cellars, and the company has some 2,000 hectares of vineyards with more than twenty varieties. The spirits age in oak casks and are then blended from different casks. Some blends refer to history: the 15-year-old Tiraspol was launched in 1997 for the distillery's centenary, and the 40-year-old Suvorov in 1992 for the city's 200th anniversary.

Where and how to try it

KVINT has a shop and tasting room at the distillery in Tiraspol and organises guided tours. However, the Belgian travel advice strongly advises against all travel to Transnistria (as of July 2026): consular assistance cannot be guaranteed there. If you want to taste KVINT's divin, you are better off looking for it outside Transnistria; the company exports to Italy and China, among other countries. Drink it after a meal, at room temperature.