New Developments in the Brad Pitt vs. Angelina Jolie Battle for Miraval: A Complete Breakdown

The Italian wine and spirits giant Campari is now caught in the crosshairs of the fight over who owns the blockbuster rosé brand

In the latest development in what has proved to be one of the nastiest divorce battles to involve custody of a wine property, the Milan-based Campari Group has been drawn into the battle for Château Miraval. A new lawsuit by Nouvel, the company that Angelina Jolie sold to the Stoli Group, demands records from Campari America, which represents the prestigious Château Miraval rosé brand in the U.S. and in France.

Miraval, which is operated by Brad Pitt and the Châteauneuf-du-Pape-based Perrin family, entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with the Campari Group in September 2023. The strategic partnership aimed to market Miraval’s rosé wines as a pre-dinner aperitif, given that Campari is a strong leader in the aperitif category with its fast-growing Aperol and Campari brands.

Yet Nouvel wants to know how, in the middle of its ongoing legal dispute with Pitt and his partners, Campari was permitted to secure the rights to become the sole distributor of Miraval’s wines. The motion, filed in California on July 29, demands all information which could shed light on, what Stoli Group calls, Campari’s involvement in “Pitt’s scheme to plunder Château Miraval’s assets and value,” according to a statement by Stoli.

Campari isn’t the only beverage company entangled in the ongoing dispute between the former couple over their jointly acquired 1,300-acre wine estate in Provence, bought during better times in 2012. The conflict began in 2022 when Pitt sued Jolie for selling her stake in Miraval to Stoli Group, owned by Russian entrepreneur Yuri Shefler, without his approval.

Jolie’s prior company Nouvel filed a countersuit, alleging that Pitt and his wine business colleague, Marc Perrin of Famille Perrin, illegally excluded her from the company and purposefully diminished her investment’s value, claiming damages of $250 million.

In April 2024, Jolie’s legal representatives submitted a motion to disclose communications that would supposedly demonstrate Pitt’s refusal to buy her shares in Château Miraval unless she consented to a burdensome confidentiality agreement. Pitt asserts that Jolie made no contributions to the winery’s accomplishments, accusing her of spitefully selling her shares to an unwanted partner after their 2016 separation.

The impact of this bitter legal battle on Campari’s decade-long distribution agreement with Miraval remains uncertain. Nonetheless, wines like Miraval Côtes de Provence, Muse de Miraval, Studio by Miraval, and Fleur de Miraval continue to be among the top-selling rosés in the U.S. and France.

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About the Author: Chris Lehoux

Meet Chris Lehoux, an experienced wine connoisseur and dedicated blogger with a deep passion for all things wine-related. With years of expertise in the industry, Chris shares insightful wine reviews, valuable wine tasting tips, expert pairing advice, and captivating tales of vineyard visits. Join Chris on a journey through the world of wine, where every sip is an adventure waiting to be savored!