Thieves Steal $5.8 Million of Prized Italian Wine in Record Heist

In what’s being called the largest wine theft in Italian history, thieves made off with about 30,000 bottles of some of the country’s most coveted wines from a winery in Tuscany.

The stolen bottles are worth an estimated 5 million euros, or about $5.8 million, according to People. The wines came from Marchesi Antinori, one of Italy’s oldest and most famous wine producers, which revealed details of the theft on Friday, Oct. 9.

How the Heist Unfolded

The theft took place overnight from a Saturday into a Sunday at Antinori’s facility near Cortona, in the province of Arezzo.

According to CEO Renzo Cotarella, at least seven thieves were involved. They disabled the facility’s alarm system and surveillance cameras, then drove in with two large trucks. Using the winery’s own forklifts, they loaded the trucks with wine and escaped into the night.

“It is certainly a very well-prepared gang,” Cotarella said, CBS News reported. He added that the same group may be behind thefts at other Italian wineries in recent months.

Some of Italy’s Most Sought-After Wines

The thieves knew exactly what they were after. The haul included bottles of Solaia, Tignanello and Guado al Tasso, three of Antinori’s most celebrated wines and some of the most collectible bottles in Italy.

About 10,000 of the stolen bottles were Solaia, one of the winery’s flagship labels.

All of the bottles were from the 2023 vintage and typically sell for between 150 and 500 euros each at retail. Cotarella described 2023 as an exceptional year for the wines, which means the bottles’ value could rise even further over time.

“A theft of this size and value has never occurred in Italy,” Cotarella said, according to a report.

A String of Wine Thefts

The Antinori heist dwarfs previous high-profile wine thefts in Italy. In 2017, thieves stole about 2,000 bottles of rare wines valued at 750,000 euros from a warehouse near the Adriatic resort town of Cervia.

It also follows a recent theft at another famous Tuscan producer. In July, about 3,300 bottles were stolen from Castello Banfi, according to Wine Spectator.

Investigators are looking into whether the thefts could be connected.

Will the Wine Be Recovered?

Police are reviewing security footage and other evidence as they work to track down the thieves and figure out how they plan to sell the stolen wine.

Cotarella remains hopeful. He noted that hiding two truckloads of high-end wine without attracting attention would be difficult, and that he believes at least some of the bottles could eventually turn up.

With luck, he said, “we’ll be able to recover at least some of the bottles” stolen from the winery.

Why Fine Wine Is a Target

Luxury wines have become an increasingly attractive target for thieves. Prized bottles hold their value, can be resold through collectors and secondary markets, and may grow more valuable with age.

At the same time, well-known labels from a specific vintage can be difficult to sell openly without raising questions, which is why investigators often watch auction sites and resale markets after major thefts.

For Antinori, a family-run company with a winemaking history stretching back more than 600 years, the loss is a striking blow. For wine lovers, it’s a reminder that some of the world’s most famous bottles are worth far more than what’s in the glass.

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