Major wine theft at historical Marchesi Antinori estate in Tuscany

A major wine theft occurred last Saturday at the storage facilities of the historic Italian winery Marchesi Antinori in Cortona, Tuscany. A group of at least seven masked individuals managed to deactivate security alarms and surveillance cameras before loading approximately 30,000 bottles of high-end wine onto two large trucks. The heist, valued at five million euros, was discovered on Monday morning when employees returned to work.

The perpetrators specifically targeted prestigious labels, including Tignanello, Solaia, and Guado al Tasso, which have retail prices ranging from 150 to 500 euros per bottle. According to reports, the thieves utilized the company's own forklifts to expedite the loading process. The winery, which dates back to 1385 and recorded 263 million euros in revenue last year, is currently cooperating with authorities.

Police are investigating the incident using security footage, although no arrests have been made as of now. Marchesi Antinori CEO Renzo Cotarella has issued an appeal to industry professionals regarding the stolen goods. The scale of the theft is considered one of the most significant in recent years for the Italian wine sector.