Italy’s biggest wine heist? Thieves haul away €5 million in 30,000 bottles; where did the two trucks vanish?

Thieves stole around 30,000 bottles worth €5 million from Italian wine producer Marchesi Antinori in a raid at its Cortona facility in Tuscany last weekend. Chief executive Renzo Cotarella called it Italy’s biggest wine theft by scale and value.

At least seven thieves disabled the alarm system and used the winery’s own forklifts to load two trucks. Among the haul were 10,000 bottles of Solaia, one of Antinori’s most prized wines. Now, investigators are trying to trace the shipment as the producer warns buyers worldwide about suspicious offers.

The haul included some of the producer’s most coveted wines. For Antinori, the immediate challenge is finding a shipment large enough to fill two trucks before the bottles reach buyers elsewhere.

How Did the Antinori Wine Heist Happen?

At least seven thieves targeted the facility, according to a report by AP. They disabled the alarm system and brought in two large trucks.

The gang used the winery’s own forklifts to load the bottles. Cotarella described the operation as carefully prepared. Reports differ on whether the theft occurred on Saturday or Sunday night. They agree that the raid happened last weekend at the Cortona site.

Reuters reported that surveillance footage showed seven masked men entering the storage facility. The evidence adds another lead as investigators try to establish who organised the theft.

Which Wines Were Stolen?

All the stolen bottles came from the 2023 vintage. The shipment included Tignanello and Guado al Tasso. Around 10,000 bottles of Solaia were also taken.

Solaia accounts for a substantial part of the loss. The supplied report puts its annual production at roughly 60,000 to 70,000 bottles, making the stolen quantity a significant share.

The €5 million valuation reflects the reported haul. Dollar estimates vary between reports, with Reuters putting the equivalent at approximately $5.8 million.

Will Insurance Cover the Wine Heist?

Antinori may have to absorb much of the financial damage. Cotarella said the company had considered the possibility of a few cases disappearing during transportation.

Its insurance arrangements were not designed around thieves entering the cellar and removing a shipment on this scale, according to the supplied report.

The incident therefore threatens more than inventory. The producer also faces uncertainty over how much of the loss can be recovered financially.

Can Investigators Recover the Stolen Bottles?

Cotarella remains hopeful. He pointed to cameras on Tuscan roads and questioned how two trucks carrying so much wine could disappear without leaving traces.

The Carabinieri and police are investigating, according to the supplied report. No recovery or arrests were reported in that account.

Antinori has warned customers worldwide to be wary of offers outside its official sales channels. The company cautioned that buying stolen wine would itself be a crime.

FAQs

How many wine bottles were stolen in Tuscany?

Around 30,000 bottles were taken from Antinori’s Cortona facility.

How much was the wine worth?

The reported value was approximately €5 million.