Mystery Intruder Targets Premium Wines: Over $2.7 Million in Losses for Spanish Winery

(Photo: El Mundo/YouTube)

An unidentified intruder emptied 60,000 liters of wine onto the floor of the Cepa 21 winery. Two of the Spanish winery’s most expensive wines appeared to be targeted by the intruder, the Horcajo and Malabrigo. The loss is estimated to be worth more than €2.5 million (about $2.7 million US).

The incident is said to have occurred around 3:30 AM on Sunday at the Cepa 21 winery located in Castrillo de Duero and was caught on CCTV. A hooded individual moved between the thanks and opened them rapidly as seen on the CCTV footage. The person managed to open five wine tanks but only three were filled. 

Jose Moro, the winery owner, filed a complaint with the Civil Guard. 

“It’s a case of doing harm for the sake of doing harm, by someone who can’t be very balanced, hasn’t got much common sense and is acting out of hatred,” Moro told Spanish public television TVE.

“Everything indicates the person knew where they were,” he continued. 

A Cepa 21 representative told BBC that it is “very hard to open the tanks” because they include a security mechanism. According to the representative, it is plausible that the intruder “is used to opening these tanks and is familiar with this kind of machinery.”

The representative continued, “This person was moving very smoothly, even though it was dark and there was no light. This must be a person who knows the grounds well.”

Although the suspect appeared familiar with the winery and signs point to a person who has a connection to the industry, it is still too early in the investigation for speculation about the identity of the intruder. The representative said they currently have no reason to suspect current or former employees.

This isn’t the first time a bandit has sowed havoc at a winery, in December a wine bandit in  Woodinville, Washington drained 5,000 gallons of wine for no apparent reason. 

The Cepa 21 incident is under investigation by local police. 

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