Wine bottles worth ₹55 crore stolen from Marchesi Antinori in Italy: How 7 masked men pulled off a three-hour heist

Thieves have reportedly stolen around 30,000 bottles of premium wine from Italy’s Marchesi Antinori in Tuscany. The value of the shipment was approximately $5.8 million (approx ₹55 million crowns).

The theft targeted a logistics facility near Cortona on the night of October 3-4. Employees discovered the missing bottles on October 5. Investigators are looking into the gang’s planning and possible knowledge of the shipment.

How did it happen

At least seven masked men reportedly entered the compound and disabled the security systems. They are said to have used the winery’s own forklifts to load the bottles onto the two trucks.

The operation reportedly lasted for about three hours before the gang escaped. The company subsequently cooperated with investigators before details emerged days later.

The stolen bottles were allegedly prepared for export. Investigators are considering whether the thieves knew what supplies would be available.

However, the reports did not show that any employee was helping the gang. They did not even confirm whether the theft was ordered by a specific buyer.

The shipment reportedly included 2023 vintages of Solaia, Tignanello and Guado al Tasso. Reports indicated that roughly 10,000 bottles of each label were taken. However, estimates vary and the exact distribution remains uncertain.

Solaia comes from Antinori’s Tignanello estate and blends three grape varieties. These include Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc.

Tignanello combines Sangiovese with international grape varieties. It helped launch the Super Tuscan movement, which challenged traditional Italian winemaking rules.

Guado al Tasso comes from Antinori’s Bolgheri estate on the Tuscan coast. Its varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

Super Tuscans have gained recognition for their quality, distinctive style and ability to age. Stolen labels are among Antinori’s recognized premium offerings.

Searching for missing bottles

Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage along possible escape routes. They are also investigating possible links to other recent wine thefts in Italy. No connection between these incidents has been publicly established.

It can be difficult to recover the shipment if the bottles pass through middlemen in smaller quantities. Shipping records, packaging details and information from legitimate distributors could help track them down.

Recognizable labels and vintages can alert dealers and collectors to suspicious offers. However, individual bottles could be more difficult to identify without unique tracking details.

So far, no arrests have been confirmed or the shipment recovered. Finding out where the trucks were traveling is particularly important to the investigation.

Marchesi Antinori traces its winemaking history back to 1385. The family business is now in its 26th generation. It has built an international reputation and sells its wines on world markets.