It’s the end of the last battle of the war of the RosesPink.
A Los Angeles judge denied brad pittrequest from the team to refuse to share business documents and correspondence with Angelina Jolie‘s lawyers. It’s another round in an ongoing struggle between the former power couple’s never-ending divorce and ownership of the Château Miraval winery.
The couple took over the business, best known for its rosé, when they moved into the main villa in 2008. Located in Correns, France, about an hour east of Aix-en- Provence, the two got married there in 2014.
After their split, Jolie made a deal to sell her stake to a group called Tenute del Mondo, which Pitt tried to shut down. He claimed the sale was made in breach of an agreement that neither party would sell without the other’s agreement. Tenute del Mondo is owned by parent company Stoli, technically based in Luxembourg, but, according to legal documents issued by Pitt, “controlled by the Russian oligarch Yuri Shefler.” Pitt’s lawsuit says he had a right of first refusal.
But Jolie’s legal team countered and, reported Saturday by PageSixwon the final round by subpoenaing business documents his company was reluctant to share.
PageSix quotes insiders on both sides, with one suggesting that Pitt’s fury with Jolie is preventing him from getting a solid business deal, the other saying all Pitt wants to do is keep what he thinks in a smart business venture for their six children.
Pitt and Jolie officially purchased Château Miraval in 2012 for $60 million. (They had a long-term lease in 2008.) Neighbors at the time included David and Victoria Beckham and Johnny Depp. The 1,200 acre estate sits along an old Roman road and some of the structures date back to the 17th century. In addition to its vineyards, it contained olive groves, pine forests, a private lake, a few fountains, and a moat. The Hollywood power couple have made some upgrades, like adding a helicopter pad.
Before Brangelina moved in, however, there was more going on than just crushing the grapes. Musician Jacques Loussier owned the property from the 1970s and built a recording studio where some all-time classics were recorded. Among them were The wall by Pink Floyd, SadeAC/DC’s “Sweetest Taboo” and “Heatseeker”. There were also sessions of Elton John, Sting, Brian Ferry, Shirley Bassey, Courtney Love, Belinda Carlisle, Morrissey, Steve Winwood, Queen, Wham!, Muse, the Gipsy Kings, the Cranberries, Rammstein, the Cure, Judas Priest, Yes, and more. (As a result of all this, one of the winery’s main current brands is called Studio.)
If that doesn’t blow your mind, it’s believed that Saint Thomas Aquinas visited Miraval in 1252. No one put on a wilder sight than this guy.
Although the studio has been inactive for years, Pitt and Damien Quintard announced their reopening in December last year and will be unaffected by who ultimately takes over the winery.