“A PREMEDITATED, CRIMINAL, VANDALISTIC ACT OF EXTREME GRAVITY FOR THE ENTIRE TERRITORY”: THE STATEMENT OF THE SOLDERA FAMILY AFTER THE ENTIRE 2007-1012 PRODUCTION OF THE CASE BASSE WINERY HAS BEEN DESTROYED BY “UNKNOWNS”

The terrible news that WineNews, though unwillingly, had to release first, and that has already been heard around the world, is now official. As a statement from the Soldera family explains, "During the night of Sunday, December 2nd and Monday morning, December 3rd, unknown persons broke through our defenses and penetrated our wine cellar at Case Basse, did not steal even one bottle, but performed an extremely serious act of vandalism, arson and delinquency to the whole territory. They opened the valves of 10 barrels of wine suitable to become Brunello di Montalcino of 6 vintages: 2007-2008-2009-2010-2011-2012. The loss amounts to 62.600 liters of Brunello, for very significant economic damages.
The gesture does not deserve any adjective, and is so grave that it will reverberate far beyond the borders of our company. The authorities will carry out their task, we trust, with the help of all those who wish to collaborate. Our thoughts and our actions, right now, are directed only to the future because no intimidation can stop the work and love for this land and the products that it gives. We would like to thank all those who have shown us and continue to show us their support together with the Carabinieri and with the Public Prosecutor of Siena, who intervened immediately to begin the investigation”. The son of the owner and producer Gianfranco Soldera, Mauro Soldera, explained to Winenews that the wine cellar “was also insured against vandalism, but the damage is huge and it will be difficult that it is fully covered”. WineNews estimates the damage to be around 5-7 million euros. The investigation continues.

Focus - Silvio Franceschelli, mayor of Montalcino: "maximum solidarity with Case Basse for the infamous and cowardly act. But any allusion to mafia phenomenon is purely fanciful"
“Maximum solidarity for the infamous and cowardly act carried out against the Case Basse Winery”, commented Silvio Franceschelli, mayor of Montalcino, about the act of vandalism to one of the smaller but most prestigious wine companies of Brunello di Montalcino, Case Basse. Franceschelli, as well as expressing "closeness and availability" to the producer, also launched a warning: “with regard to the nature of the event I invite everyone to the utmost prudence in respect of the value and image of the Montalcino territory to the world. I believe that any allusion to phenomena of organized crime is pure fantasy in a territory such as this where people still leave their key in the front door. I have maximum confidence in the police force and the prosecutors who have always been a guarantee for our territory”.
Fabrizio Bindocci, president of the Consortium of Brunello di Montalcino, also commented on the event and contacted Gianfranco Soldera yesterday to express his “support and cooperation” and to condemn an act that affects all the producers of Brunello di Montalcino and the territory, expressing the solidarity of all 250 companies united in the Consortium that, explains Bindocci "feel involved in first person by such a disgraceful event”.