Rome – Marchesi Antinori, the historic Tuscan wine producer dating back to 1385, announced a major theft that could affect wine lovers worldwide. Around 30,000 bottles of its most prized labels were taken from a storage facility in Cortona, Italy, with an estimated value of €5 million ($5.8 million).
Details of the heist
According to Antinori, the thieves entered the warehouse last weekend, disabling alarm systems before loading the wine onto two trucks. Surveillance footage captured seven masked men moving through the facility. The operation was discovered on Monday morning when staff arrived for their shift.
The stolen inventory includes between 8,000 and 10,000 bottles of Solaia, Italy’s most sought‑after red, as well as significant quantities of Tignanello and Guado al Tasso. While the wines typically retail from €150 per bottle, the rarest vintages can command prices in the thousands of euros.
Why the loss was so large
Antinori explained that the timing of the theft helped the thieves. The bottles had been prepared for shipment to foreign distributors, meaning they were already packaged and ready to move. This allowed the criminals to remove a large quantity quickly, rather than targeting a few high‑value bottles from private cellars or restaurants, which has been more common in past Italian wine crimes.
The incident follows a similar theft in July at the Banfi winery in Montalcino, indicating a troubling trend of organized groups targeting large wine inventories. Historically, such crimes involved only a handful of bottles, but recent cases show a shift toward stealing entire stockpiles.
Antinori’s response
Antinori has immediately alerted customers worldwide to be cautious of any offers for its wines that do not come through official sales channels. The company remains hopeful that the stolen bottles can be recovered and is cooperating fully with Italian police, who are investigating the theft as a highly organized crime operation.
“We are working closely with law‑enforcement to bring those responsible to justice,” a company representative told Reuters. “Our priority is to protect our customers and preserve the integrity of the Antinori brand.”
Impact on the market
While the loss represents a significant financial hit for the winery, Antinori’s extensive export network—serving 170 countries—should help mitigate long‑term damage. The company’s reputation for quality and its deep family roots have kept demand strong, even in the face of occasional supply disruptions.
Wine collectors and retailers are advised to verify the provenance of any Antinori bottles offered for sale, especially those at unusually low prices. The theft underscores the importance of robust security measures for high‑value agricultural products and the need for vigilance across the global wine trade.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
