1/ It’s January 2010.
Aubert de Villaine is the famed proprietor of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti.
One day he receives an anonymous note threatening to destroy his priceless vines.
The ransom?
€1 million
Aubert de Villaine is the famed proprietor of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti.
One day he receives an anonymous note threatening to destroy his priceless vines.
The ransom?
€1 million
2/ If you’re unfamiliar with Domaine de la Romanée-Conti.
Their wines are rare and fiercely sought-after.
Its wine retails for more than $20,000 per bottle, and prices quickly skyrocket on the secondary market. In Oct 2018 two bottles of the 1945 vintage sold for $558,000
Their wines are rare and fiercely sought-after.
Its wine retails for more than $20,000 per bottle, and prices quickly skyrocket on the secondary market. In Oct 2018 two bottles of the 1945 vintage sold for $558,000
3/ Aubert doesn’t think much about the ransom note. He thinks it’s a hoax or sick joke.
However...
The note included a detailed drawing of the DRC vineyard.
A drawing that could have only come from someone who knew it inside and out.
However...
The note included a detailed drawing of the DRC vineyard.
A drawing that could have only come from someone who knew it inside and out.
4/ When Aubert gets another note, he calls the authorities.
They rush to the DRC vineyards and find 2 vines that have been injected with syringes of poison.
By the way, each vine in this vineyard is valued at several hundred thousand dollars 💵
They rush to the DRC vineyards and find 2 vines that have been injected with syringes of poison.
By the way, each vine in this vineyard is valued at several hundred thousand dollars 💵
5/ Aubert decides to leave a note of his own.
He writes that he’ll pay the ransom, but it’ll take time.
A few days later, he receives the third and final note.
The mystery extortionist is pleased.
He writes that he’ll pay the ransom, but it’ll take time.
A few days later, he receives the third and final note.
The mystery extortionist is pleased.
6/ Fast forward to February 12, 2010.
DRC’s deputy manager, Jean-Charles Cuvelier, prepares to drop off a million fake euros.
Surrounding the drop-off site are a dozen armed police officers.
DRC’s deputy manager, Jean-Charles Cuvelier, prepares to drop off a million fake euros.
Surrounding the drop-off site are a dozen armed police officers.
7/ Cuvelier drops off the bag at the mutually agreed-upon location: a cemetery in a neighboring village.
He gets in his car and drives away.
30 minutes later, he gets a phone call from the police.
“We got him.”
He gets in his car and drives away.
30 minutes later, he gets a phone call from the police.
“We got him.”
8/ The extortionist is Jacques Soltys, a troubled wine enthusiast.
As a child, his parents sent him to a boarding trade school for wine making.
He didn’t last long.
Soltys’ constant smoking, cursing, and delinquency got him expelled.
As a child, his parents sent him to a boarding trade school for wine making.
He didn’t last long.
Soltys’ constant smoking, cursing, and delinquency got him expelled.
9/ Soltys pivoted from troublemaker to career criminal.
He committed several robberies and even a kidnapping.
During one of his escapades, police shot him in the chest.
After that, Soltys thought it’d be easier to extort winemakers.
He committed several robberies and even a kidnapping.
During one of his escapades, police shot him in the chest.
After that, Soltys thought it’d be easier to extort winemakers.
10/ DRC wasn’t Soltys’ only target.
Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüe (they make some of my favorite wines) received similar threats.
The estate also lost two vines to poison.
Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüe (they make some of my favorite wines) received similar threats.
The estate also lost two vines to poison.
11/ Soltys meticulously prepared his attacks.
He’d create makeshift shacks overlooking the vineyards to plan his attack.
Police later raided the shacks and found:
A cordless drill
A handgun
A headlamp
A hot plate
Chemical solutions
Roundup (weed killer)
Syringes
(No wine?)
He’d create makeshift shacks overlooking the vineyards to plan his attack.
Police later raided the shacks and found:
A cordless drill
A handgun
A headlamp
A hot plate
Chemical solutions
Roundup (weed killer)
Syringes
(No wine?)
12/ Soltys was never sentenced.
Not for the reasons that you may be thinking.
He hung himself in a Dijon prison while awaiting trial.
When interviewed later, Aubert said the no-trial was a silver lining, because he didn’t want it to inspire copycats.
Not for the reasons that you may be thinking.
He hung himself in a Dijon prison while awaiting trial.
When interviewed later, Aubert said the no-trial was a silver lining, because he didn’t want it to inspire copycats.
13/ Today, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti remains a national treasure and continues to produce the best wines in the world 🌎
While French vineyards have seen extortion, vandalism, and agricultural terrorism before,
This case remains the first and only poisoning of vines.
While French vineyards have seen extortion, vandalism, and agricultural terrorism before,
This case remains the first and only poisoning of vines.
14/ Enjoyed this story? I would greatly appreciate a RT/follow.
Every week I will be uncovering fascinating stories in the world of wine 🍷
Every week I will be uncovering fascinating stories in the world of wine 🍷
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