$5M Wine Heist: Thieves Make Off With 30,000 Bottles in Italy
WHO:
ABC News - Chief Executive Renzo Cotarella stated that the thieves may be the same group that has targeted other Italian wineries in recent months.
ABC News - Chief Executive Renzo Cotarella stated that the theft was executed by a group of at least seven thieves.
ABC News - Chief Executive Renzo Cotarella described the thieves as a "very well-prepared gang."
CNN - Marchesi Antinori vineyard, CEO Renzo Cotarella
BBC News - Thieves involved in the heist
WHAT:
ABC News - The company reported that the theft was discovered on Monday, but it was made public on Friday to avoid interfering with the investigation.
CNN - The company exports to 170 countries and has annual revenues of around €265 million.
ABC News - The stolen wine includes about 10,000 bottles of Solaia, Tignanello, and Guado al Tasso, all from the 2023 vintage.
BBC News - The company reported that the theft is the largest wine theft on record in Italy.
ABC News - The theft is described as the largest wine theft in Italy’s history.
ABC News - The thieves used two large trucks and the winery’s forklifts to load the stolen wine.
CNN - Thieves stole around 30,000 bottles of wine worth more than $5 million.
CNN - The stolen wines include some of the winery’s most sought-after labels, retailing for between €150 and €500 ($168 and $561).
CNN - The heist is believed to be among the largest wine thefts ever reported.
CNN - The company reported that between 60,000 and 70,000 bottles of Solaia are produced each year, and around 10,000 bottles were taken.
WHERE:
CNN - The heist occurred in a warehouse in Cortona, Italy.
CNN - Marchesi Antinori is based in Florence, Italy.
WHEN:
CNN - The heist took place over the weekend and was discovered on Monday.
WHY:
CNN - Cotarella expressed confidence that the wine will be found, stating, “Two trucks cannot just disappear. I remain always positive.”
CNN - The incident may rank among the largest wine thefts due to the scale of the theft and the estimated market value of the stolen wine.
HOW:
BBC News - Authorities are investigating how the stolen wine may be sold, with police and Carabinieri officers examining surveillance footage and other evidence.
CNN - The thieves used the winery’s forklifts to load the stolen wine into two large trucks.
ABC News - The thieves disabled both the winery’s alarm system and surveillance cameras before executing the heist.
CNN - Thieves disarmed the alarm system to carry out the heist.
CNN - The wine was boxed and packaged for export, making it easier for the thieves to remove.
(UPDATED October 9, 2026 22:59 UTC)
In a concerning development, the chief executive of a prominent Italian winery, Renzo Cotarella, indicated that the thieves behind a recent theft may be part of a group that has targeted other wineries in the region. The winery, which exports to 170 countries and generates around €265 million in annual revenue, discovered the theft on a Monday but chose to make it public on a Friday to avoid disrupting the ongoing investigation. Cotarella remains optimistic about recovering the stolen wine, asserting, “Two trucks cannot just disappear,” while authorities are actively examining surveillance footage and other evidence to track down the culprits.
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(UPDATED October 9, 2026 21:03 UTC)
In a remarkable heist, a group of at least seven thieves executed the largest wine theft on record in Italy, according to Chief Executive Renzo Cotarella. The stolen haul includes around 10,000 bottles of prestigious wines such as Solaia, Tignanello, and Guado al Tasso, all from the 2023 vintage. The thieves cleverly utilized the winery’s forklifts to load the valuable wine into two large trucks for their getaway.
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(UPDATED October 9, 2026 18:02 UTC)
In a stunning development, a very well-prepared gang has pulled off the largest wine theft in Italy’s history, according to Chief Executive Renzo Cotarella. The thieves used two large trucks and the winery’s own forklifts to load up the stolen wine, making off with a significant haul. To execute their plan, they disabled both the winery’s alarm system and surveillance cameras, ensuring a smooth getaway.
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(UPDATED October 9, 2026 14:05 UTC)
In a stunning heist at a warehouse in Cortona, Italy, thieves made off with around 30,000 bottles of wine valued at over $5 million from the Marchesi Antinori vineyard. The stolen collection includes some of the winery's most coveted labels, retailing between €150 and €500, and the incident is believed to be one of the largest wine thefts ever reported. Authorities say the thieves disarmed the alarm system and packaged the wine for export, facilitating their escape with approximately 10,000 bottles of the highly sought-after Solaia.