Earlier this month, Domaine du Château de Viviers fell victim to burglars who made off with over 150 six-bottle cases of its esteemed Chablis wines from the 2022 vintage. Under the veil of darkness, they also seized 225 magnums (150cl bottles) from the 2020 and 2021 vintages.
Arnould Lefébure, the proprietor of Domaine du Château de Viviers – which prides itself on biodynamic and organic practices – lamented the total cost estimated to exceed €50,000 (£42,700).
Police are currently investigating the burglary, which occurred between approximately 1am and 4am on the night spanning March 4th to 5th. This incident adds, unfortunately, to a growing trend of wine theft, with the burglars displaying a surprising degree of organisation.
The wine weighed over three tonnes, in total, in very heavy magnums of almost four kilos each, which would have had to be moved by hand.
Lefébure said, ‘To move 225 magnums like this, which were in separate wooden cases, probably they had to be at least four, five or six [people] to do that. So, they were very well organised. We are discreet, we don’t have advertising outside.’
The stolen wines, intended for shipment to China, comprised three primary cuvées from the 2022 vintage – Côta Grand Claude, Sous les Plantes, and Cuvée B&B – along with magnums of Côta Grand Claude 2020 and Poseidon 2021.
Lefébure is not optimistic that the stolen bottles will be recovered but declares he would be able to identify them from a photograph, due to their distinctive handcrafted blue wax capsules and unique labels. He has urged anyone with information to reach out to him at Domaine du Château de Viviers via phone or email.
This recent theft, one of a growing number, highlights the importance of comprehensive vineyard insurance.
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- Damage to vineyard infrastructure such as trellises, irrigation systems, and buildings
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- Liability issues,
- Damage during storage and transportation
- Thefts and spillages
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