In a carefully orchestrated heist, a masked crew stole more than 3,000 bottles of top-tier Barolo from the famed Conterno & Fantino winery in Monforte d’Alba over the night of September 16. The stolen stock, valued in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, represents a devastating blow to one of the Piedmont region’s premier winemakers.

Security footage reveals four suspects in dark clothing and balaclavas breaching a non-alarmed window after hiking up through the estate’s vineyards. Over three hours, the crew skillfully operated the winery’s forklift trucks to load pallets containing prized 2021 and 2022 vintages - including rare Ginestra Vigna Sorì Magnums - onto two company delivery vans.

To avoid alerting staff, the thieves pushed the vans downhill with the engines off before starting them on the main road. Law enforcement authorities believe the precision of the raid points to a contract theft carried out by professional operatives targeting the global wine black market.