Vandals Destroy 400,000 Bottles of Italian Sparkling Wine

Vandals broke into the Conte Vistarino winery in the middle of the night and drained refrigerated steel tanks.

“It was a tremendous shock,” said Ottavia Giorgi di Vistarino, the 40-year-old countess who manages the family-owned winery.

The wine, that was maturing at the centuries-old estate, was part of the 2016 harvest. In total, 400,000 bottles were lost, resulting in a loss of around £420,000 for the winery.

The family have not received any threats and do not know who might be responsible. Police are investigating what is being considered an act of sabotage, as no other damage was done and nothing was stolen.

The 826-hectare Conte Vistarino estate, located in the Valle Scuropasso in the province of Pavia, has been owned by the same family since the 17th century.