The dispute between former Hollywood power couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt over Château Miraval is reaching new heights. Last September, actor and ex-husband Brad Pitt entered into a strategic distribution partnership with the Milan-based multinational spirits company Campari for the US and French markets. Now, the opposing side, represented by the Russian Stoli Group—whom Angelina Jolie sold her shares to in 2021—wants answers from Campari about how the agreement came to be.
In a statement from early July, obtained by our sister publication Weinwirtschaft, Nouvel LLC claimed they had been "excluded" from Château Miraval’s business dealings by "Pitt and his allies." Nouvel LLC is the company that Angelina Jolie sold to Tenute del Mondo, a subsidiary of the Stoli Group. At that time, 50% of the shares in Miraval were acquired.
Campari urged to "comply with regulations"
Nouvel has now filed a motion in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, Central District, seeking to compel Campari to "comply with regulations." Simultaneously, the company is demanding that Campari identify knowledgeable individuals and produce relevant documents related to the distribution agreement made with Miraval.
Moreover, Nouvel is questioning how Campari was able to secure the exclusive distribution rights to one of the "most successful rosé wines in the world" amid the ongoing legal dispute between Pitt and Nouvel. The company goes further in its statement, requesting information "about a possible involvement of Campari in Pitt’s plan to strip the assets and value of Château Miraval."
Was Jolie allowed to sell 50% of Miraval?
The motion assumes that Nouvel indeed holds 50% of the shares. However, this has not yet been established. Pitt and Jolie are also disputing in another American court whether Jolie had the legal right to sell half of the French rosé winery at the time. Originally, she only owned 40%—Pitt had transferred an additional 10% to her for €1 during their marriage.
Pitt now argues that this agreement is unenforceable, which is why these shares are currently held in a trust account. As a result, Pitt currently holds 50% of the shares compared to Jolie’s 40%, possibly giving him the authority to make strategic decisions, such as the distribution partnership with Campari, on his own. Whether this is indeed the case is now for the courts to decide. What will happen to the Campari deal in the meantime remains unclear. KA
