Thieves struck at the Marchesi Antinori winery near Cortona in Arezzo province during the weekend of October 3 and 4. The group used two large trucks to carry off about 30,000 bottles worth an estimated 5 million euros ($5.8 million). Among the stolen items were Solaia, Tignanello, and Guado al Tasso from the 2023 vintage.
The winery’s alarm system and surveillance cameras were disabled before the thieves entered, according to ABC News. Chief Executive Renzo Cotarella described the operation as highly organized. He suggested that this may be the same group responsible for other recent attacks on Italian wineries.
The stolen bottles were all from a single vintage year, 2023, which is considered exceptional. Retail prices for these wines range between 150 and 500 euros each.
About 10,000 bottles of Solaia were taken in the incident.
The theft was discovered on Monday but not publicly reported until Friday to avoid interfering with police work. Authorities are now working to track how the stolen wine might be sold. Police and Carabinieri officers are reviewing surveillance footage and other evidence.
This incident surpasses previous high-profile wine thefts in Italy. In 2017, thieves stole about 2,000 bottles valued at approximately 750,000 euros from a warehouse near Cervia. Antinori described the latest theft as the largest in Italy's history.
The Antinori family has long been known for its premium wines and winemaking traditions in Tuscany. Cotarella noted that the thieves had clearly planned their approach carefully. Investigators believe at least seven people were involved and used the company's forklifts to load the trucks.
The company has not yet announced that any of the stolen bottles have been recovered. Investigators are also looking into whether this crime was part of a larger pattern targeting luxury wine producers. Antinori has warned customers worldwide to be cautious of offers outside official sales channels.
The incident has drawn attention to the security challenges faced by high-end wineries across Italy.