Thieves Steal 30,000 Bottles of Wine Worth $5.8 Million in Historic Heist

A man pours a glass of red wine on the opening day of the 44th edition of the annual International Wine and Spirits Exhibition “Vinitaly”, in Verona, northern Italy, April 8, 2010. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Thieves stole about 30,000 bottles of high-end Italian wine worth an estimated $5.8 million from a winery in Tuscany, in what the producer described as the largest wine theft in Italy’s history.

The theft targeted a facility operated by Marchesi Antinori near Cortona, in the province of Arezzo. At least seven thieves reportedly entered the property Saturday night and escaped with two truckloads of wine, including bottles of Solaia, Tignanello and Guado al Tasso.

The company discovered the theft Monday but waited until Friday to make it public, citing concerns that an earlier announcement could interfere with the investigation.

Antinori CEO Renzo Cotarella said the thieves disabled the alarm system and surveillance cameras before entering the facility. They then used the winery’s forklifts to load the wine onto two large trucks and flee.

“It is certainly a very well-prepared gang,” Cotarella said, according to CBS News. He added that investigators are considering whether the group may be linked to other recent winery thefts in Italy. “A theft of this size and value has never occurred in Italy,” Cotarella said.

Which Wines Were Stolen?

All of the stolen bottles were from the 2023 vintage and typically retail for between €150 ($167) and €500 ($558) each, according to the report.

The haul included about 10,000 bottles of Solaia, one of Antinori’s flagship wines. Cotarella described the vintage as exceptional.

The stolen inventory also included Tignanello and Guado al Tasso, two other prominent wines in the producer’s portfolio.

Founded in 1385, Marchesi Antinori has remained under family ownership for 26 generations. The company is now warning customers worldwide to watch for suspicious offers, particularly those made outside authorized sales channels.

“We are informing our clients around the world and asking them to pay attention to any offers outside the official channels,” Cotarella said.

Police and Carabinieri officers are examining surveillance footage and other evidence as they investigate the theft and try to determine how the stolen bottles might enter the market.

Cotarella said he remained confident investigators could trace the shipment, noting that moving two truckloads of wine would be difficult to do without attracting attention.