Thieves stole around 30,000 bottles of premium Tuscan wine worth approximately €5 million from a Marchesi Antinori storage facility, the company confirmed on Friday.

The haul included 8,000 to 10,000 bottles of Solaia, one of Italy's most sought-after labels, alongside Tignanello and Guado al Tasso. The wines retail from €150 per bottle, with the rarest vintages fetching thousands of euros each.

How did the theft unfold?

Surveillance footage showed seven masked men entering the warehouse in Cortona last weekend. They disabled the alarm systems before loading thousands of cases of Tuscan reds onto two trucks.

Staff discovered the theft on Monday morning on arrival at the facility. Italian police are now investigating. Antinori said the timing and execution of the operation suggested a highly organised group.

The theft was facilitated because the wines had already been prepared for shipment to foreign distributors, allowing the gang to move a large volume of high-value bottles quickly, an Antinori representative told Reuters.

What does it mean for buyers?

Florence-based Antinori, founded in 1385 and now exporting to 170 countries, has alerted customers worldwide to be wary of offers outside official sales channels. The company says it remains hopeful of recovering the stolen stock.

For distributors, restaurants and collectors, the warning carries practical weight. Solaia and Tignanello are among Italy's most traded fine wines, and 30,000 bottles entering the grey market would be difficult to place through legitimate channels without detection.

Is wine theft escalating in Italy?

The Antinori heist follows a robbery in July at Banfi, the renowned winery in Montalcino. The two cases mark a shift in pattern.

Historically, wine crime in Italy involved smaller quantities — a handful of high-value bottles taken from restaurants, private cellars or in transit during distribution. Recent thefts have targeted larger stocks held at wineries themselves, with organised crews able to move entire pallets at speed.

For winery operators across Tuscany and beyond, the implication is direct: warehouses holding export-ready inventory are now a primary target, and alarm systems alone did not stop a seven-person crew with two trucks.

Antinori continues to work with Italian police on the investigation. Buyers across its 170 export markets should expect further advisories on identifying stolen stock as recovery efforts proceed.