The world’s biggest deliberate wine destructions
11th October, 2017
by
Patrick Schmitt
The Brunello vandal
The “Brunello Killer” Andrea di Gisi, and the Case Basse cellars in Brunello di Montalcino
On 2 December 2012, 62,600 litres of Case Basse from top Brunello di Montalcino producer, Gianfranco Soldera, were lost after the taps to the barrels were opened by a former employee at the winery, who entered the cellar by breaking a window.
Andrea Di Gisi, 39, from Rome, dubbed “The Brunello Killer”, opened the valves of 10 barrels, allowing wine from the last six vintages: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 to flow down the drain.
The act of vandalism resulted in a commercial loss in the region of €10m.
Di Gisi allegedly carried out the attack out of revenge, and was said to have been angry that he hadn’t been given accommodation on the estate while working there.
In March 2013 he was sentenced to four years in prison.