The legal conflict between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie over Château Miraval has entered a new stage after a California court ordered Stoli Group representatives to give depositions. The Superior Court of California granted Pitt’s request to compel testimony from executives including Alexey Oliynik, in connection with Jolie’s 2021 sale of her interest in the French estate. The executives had resisted taking part, citing their residence in Switzerland.
The depositions are to take place in London before the end of September, information from court documents reported by PEOPLE. Jolie sold her interest to Tenute del Mondo, the wine business associated with the Stoli Group and controlled by Yuri Shefler. Pitt’s legal team argues that testimony from the purchaser’s representatives could shed light on how the transaction was negotiated and approved, and whether it breached the parties’ alleged agreement on ownership transfers.
Reporting on Pitt’s complaint says the couple acquired their interests for approximately €25 million, or about $28 million at the time, with Pitt contributing 60% and Jolie 40%. Pitt alleges that they had “agreed they would never sell their respective interests in Miraval without the other’s consent.” He also claims Jolie should have offered him her interest before selling it. These remain allegations at the center of the civil dispute, not findings by the court.
Oliynik had previously declined to provide documents or appear for questioning, and the latest order requires him and other executives to participate. A separate hearing is scheduled for July 8 to consider whether Shefler will also be compelled to testify. The article’s account of the California Court of Appeals’ recent ruling says it reversed an earlier decision concerning Shefler’s role, reasoning that an investment reportedly approaching $40 million made his knowledge of the transaction relevant. The sale price itself remains contested in the litigation.
The lawsuit was filed in February 2022 and is identified as Los Angeles Superior Court case No. 22STCV06081. Pitt and his company Mondo Bongo are described as plaintiffs in the case, which concerns the 2021 sale and the parties’ alleged contractual rights. Pitt’s complaint characterized the purchaser as a “Russia-affiliated spirits conglomerate” and argued that its involvement could threaten Miraval’s reputation and stability. Jolie’s legal team has rejected his claims and described his actions as part of a broader campaign since their 2016 separation. Her representatives argue that the deposition order does not decide the merits of the case.
Court filings indicate that a trial is expected next year. The former couple finalized their divorce settlement in December 2024, but their separate dispute over the winery remains unresolved. Pitt and Jolie married at Miraval in 2014. The estate in southern France is known for its rosé, and the case puts questions about ownership and consent over business-interest transfers before a court.
Château Miraval has vineyards and a historic château across an estate described in the article as covering more than 500 hectares. The winery dispute involves more than the sale of a stake: Pitt’s claims also concern the parties’ alleged rights over ownership transfers and control of the Miraval business and brand. The court’s findings will determine the outcome of those contractual claims.
