The ongoing legal battle between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie over the ownership of their French winery, Chateau Miraval, has captivated the public for years. Since their divorce in 2016, the former couple has been locked in a bitter dispute over the 1,200-acre estate, with Pitt claiming Jolie sold her stake without his consent. The story of Chateau Miraval is a fascinating one, dating back to the 13th century when it was founded as a monastery and vineyard in the Provençal hamlet of Correns. Over the centuries, the property has passed through various hands, including French nobility and the renowned French pianist Jacques Loussier, who owned it from the late 1970s until the early 1990s. In 2008, Pitt and Jolie leased the property, with an option to buy, and later bought a controlling stake in the operator of Miraval, dividing the estate 60-40. However, the deal was revised in 2013 to an even split, with Pitt selling his shares to Jolie for one euro. The couple launched Miraval Wines in 2013, which became an instant success. In 2021, Jolie sold her half of the winery to Yuri Shefler, a Russian oligarch, but Pitt filed suit to reverse the sale, claiming a verbal and written agreement that neither would sell without the other's approval. The legal battle has been intense, with raids on the property and counter-claims, and it continues to unfold, with Pitt's recent demand for Jolie's private emails related to the sale.
