Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s legal battle over their French winery, Château Miraval, is heading to trial after Pitt won the latest round in the dispute. The stars will be deposed in the case, potentially leading to more revelations about the former couple. A Los Angeles Superior Court judge rejected Jolie’s attempts to have the case dismissed, allowing it to proceed to trial, which may take place in 2026.
The insiders revealed that both Pitt and Jolie will have to provide depositions as they move towards the trial, and settling the dispute seems unlikely. The exes have been in a legal battle over the vineyard they purchased in 2008 following Jolie’s 2016 divorce filing. The conflict started when Jolie sold half of her shares in the $500 million property to the wine division of Stoli, an act that conflicted with an agreement Pitt claims they had.
Jolie alleged that the reasoning behind her sale was Pitt’s attempt to make her sign a non-disclosure agreement to cover up his alleged past misdeeds. Pitt’s lawyers viewed the case as a straightforward business dispute, whereas Jolie introduced personal elements that complicated the proceedings. The case is now moving towards a courtroom, but the Stoli group that acquired the shares is also seeking to dismiss the case, with a hearing set for March. A trial date for the Pitt-Jolie dispute may be set in April, but it could potentially be heard as late as 2026 due to the complexity of the case.
When the couple purchased the vineyard, Pitt ended up with 60% ownership, and Jolie had 40%. Before their 2014 marriage at the estate, Pitt gave Jolie an additional 10% to make them equal partners. The shares were transferred from Pitt to Jolie for a nominal fee of 1 euro. The legal battle over Château Miraval has been costly for both parties, with representatives for Pitt and Jolie choosing not to comment on the ongoing dispute.
Despite the stakes involved in the legal battle over Château Miraval, with its lavish vineyard and historic winery, Pitt and Jolie are now entangled in a bitter dispute involving personal and business matters. The upcoming trial and depositions may reveal further details about the high-profile couple’s relationship and the intricacies of their shared business interests. As the case progresses towards a courtroom showdown, the future ownership and management of the prestigious French winery hang in the balance, awaiting a final resolution to the long-running conflict.
