Brad Pitt scores WIN over Angelina Jolie in winery dispute; buyers in charge of declaring in declaration scheduled for July 8 |

brad pitt has won a legal victory in his ongoing dispute over the ownership and sale of French winery Chateau Miraval, which he co-owned with his ex-wife. Angelina Jolie.According to a June 17 court filing obtained by PEOPLE, the California Superior Court granted a motion filed by Pitt’s legal team to compel statements from members of the Stoli Group. Pitt’s lawyers claimed that investors associated with the company had firsthand knowledge of Jolie’s 2021 sale of her stake in Chateau Miraval to Tenute del Mondo.

The court sets the date of the deposition

New court documents filed in June state that statements by Oliynik, along with “most qualified persons” from Tenute del Mondo BV and Nouvel LLC – the Jolie company sold to Tenute del Mondo – are due in London by September 30.On June 24, the California Court of Appeal reversed an earlier decision regarding Yuri Shefler’s involvement in the Chateau Miraval transaction. According to People, the court, in its ruling, rejected Shefler’s claim that she had only a “minimal role” in the sale. He stated: “It defies belief that Shefler, a sophisticated businessman, would risk nearly $40 million on a transaction he knew nothing about and had no involvement with.“A hearing on Pitt’s motion to compel members of the Stoli Group, including Alexey Oliynik, to testify about the sale is scheduled for July 8.

Brad Pitt’s legal team at the cellar sale

The Stoli Group is led by Yuri Shefler, a Russian-born billionaire based in Switzerland. In 2023, Pitt sued Jolie, seeking compensation for the sale of his interest in the winery to what his legal documents described as Shefler’s “Russian-affiliated spirits conglomerate.”Pitt’s legal team also argued that the Stoli Group “has been subject to repeated boycotts in connection with Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and homophobic legislative agenda.” In addition, the documents alleged that the sale of Jolie “jeopardizes the reputation of the business that Pitt has so carefully built.”Pitt had previously sought to impeach Stoli Group executive Alexey Oliynik, who reportedly refused to produce documents or appear for questioning, saying he could not be forced to do so because he lives in Switzerland.

Brad Pitt’s team reacts to the court ruling

A source close to Pitt told PEOPLE, “This win is another step toward transparency about what happened.” The source also claimed that Shefler “was a partner [Jolie] he chose knowing that he was a partner that Brad did not want to be involved in the business.”Another source close to Pitt claimed that Jolie had agreed that Pitt would have “first right of refusal” before any sale, but later sold her stake to Shefler.

Angelina Jolie’s lawyer reacts

In response to the recent court rulings, a lawyer for Jolie told PEOPLE that the rulings “have no impact on the merits of the case and certainly have no impact on Ms. The case of Jolie. At this point, Ms. Jolie is just looking forward to defeating the case at trial next year so her family can focus their energies on healing and moving on.”A source close to Jolie also said she sold her stake to Stoli because she believed the company would help grow the business for the benefit of her children, who are expected to inherit Pitt’s stake in the future. The source added: “The truth is, Pitt’s ego and obsession with control got in the way. Brad refused to work with Stoli simply because Angie chose them, not him.”

About Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s battle for Chateau Miraval

Pitt and Jolie’s legal battle over Chateau Miraval began in February 2022 after Pitt alleged that Jolie sold her share of the winery without his approval, despite an agreement that neither would sell without the other’s consent. Jolie later filed a countersuit, accusing Pitt of waging a “claim war” against her after she filed for divorce in 2016. The couple finalized their divorce settlement in December 2024.