When Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie purchased Château Miraval, the sprawling French estate became more than just a luxury retreat—it evolved into one of the world’s most recognizable celebrity-owned wineries. Years after their relationship ended, however, the vineyard has become the center of one of Hollywood’s longest-running and most expensive legal battles.

Although the former couple officially finalized their divorce in December 2024, their fight over Château Miraval continues to intensify across multiple countries. What began as a disagreement over the sale of a business stake has expanded into a complicated international dispute involving breach-of-contract allegations, discovery battles, ownership questions, and competing claims of vindictive conduct.

As of July 2026, the so-called “War of the Rosé” remains unresolved, with a trial potentially stretching into 2027. Here’s a detailed look at how the dispute developed, why it has become so legally complex, and where the case currently stands.

Château Miraval ownership history: How Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie built the famous French winery

Long before it became associated with one of Hollywood’s biggest couples, Château Miraval already had centuries of history behind it.

The estate dates back to the 13th century, when it functioned as a monastery and vineyard. Over the decades, it passed through several notable owners.

During the late 1970s through the early 1990s, pianist Jacques Loussier owned the property, adding a professional recording studio that attracted internationally known musicians. Later, entrepreneur Tom Bove restored the estate and expanded its organic wine business, laying the groundwork for what would become one of France’s most recognizable celebrity wineries.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie entered the picture in 2008, leasing the property with an option to purchase it while Jolie was pregnant with the couple’s twins. The estate soon became their family home as well as a long-term investment.

Between 2011 and 2013, the couple completed the acquisition through investment entities. Initially, ownership was divided roughly 60/40 in Pitt’s favor. That structure changed in 2013 when Pitt symbolically transferred additional shares to Jolie for one euro, resulting in equal 50/50 ownership.

Together, they partnered with Famille Perrin to launch Miraval rosé, which quickly became a major commercial success and established the winery as an internationally recognized wine brand.

The estate also carried personal significance. In 2014, Pitt and Jolie married in Château Miraval’s chapel during an intimate ceremony.

From divorce to dispute: Why Angelina Jolie’s 2021 Château Miraval stake sale sparked years of litigation

The legal conflict traces back to the aftermath of the couple’s separation.

In 2016, Jolie filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. What followed was a lengthy and highly public custody battle alongside disagreements involving shared assets, including Château Miraval.

The turning point arrived in 2021.

Jolie sold her approximately 50% ownership stake—valued in the context of the approximately $164 million property—to Tenute del Mondo, the wine division of the Stoli Group linked to Russian billionaire Yuri Shefler. A California judge cleared the transaction.

Pitt maintains that the sale violated an existing understanding between them. According to his legal position, the former spouses had a verbal and/or written agreement that neither could sell their ownership interest without the other’s consent.

Jolie disputes that claim entirely.

She maintains that no binding agreement existed preventing either party from selling their shares. She has also described the sale as part of achieving financial and personal independence following the separation.

Brad Pitt’s lawsuit against Angelina Jolie: The key allegations behind the ‘War of the Rosé’

In February 2022, Pitt launched legal proceedings in California while also pursuing related actions in France.

His lawsuit seeks to unwind Jolie’s sale and alleges several legal violations, including:

Date	Event	Official Details
February 2022	Pitt files lawsuit	Alleged breach of implied contract, quasi-contract, covenant of good faith, and related claims.
2022	California and French legal actions	Pitt argues Jolie sold her interest without his approval and harmed the business.

According to Pitt’s filings, Jolie improperly completed the transaction without obtaining his consent, thereby damaging the winery and the business they had built together.

The litigation has since expanded well beyond the original ownership dispute, becoming a broad legal fight involving international discovery requests and corporate records.

Angelina Jolie’s countersuit claims and the international legal battle explained

Jolie responded in 2022 with her own countersuit.

She alleges that Pitt has waged a “vindictive war” against her since their 2016 divorce and seeks approximately $250 million in damages.

Her filings also include accusations relating to Pitt’s management and other issues connected to the winery dispute.

The conflict has since spread across several legal systems.

In France, courts sided with Pitt regarding certain document seizures and raids conducted at the property.

A significant ownership development occurred in Luxembourg in February 2024.

The Luxembourg court ruled that the symbolic 10% share resulting from the 2013 one-euro transfer would be placed under the control of a court-appointed receiver.

That ruling left ownership structured approximately as follows:

Shareholder	Approximate Ownership Following February 2024 Luxembourg Ruling
Brad Pitt	Approximately 50%
Yuri Shefler	Approximately 40%
Court-appointed receiver	Approximately 10%

As a result, Pitt became the estate’s largest shareholder, although the broader ownership dispute remains unresolved.

Château Miraval lawsuit timeline: Discovery battles continue through 2025 and 2026

The legal fight has increasingly focused on discovery rather than the underlying ownership dispute.

In November 2024, a California judge denied Jolie’s motions to dismiss, allowing the lawsuit to continue toward trial.

Throughout 2025 and 2026, Pitt sought depositions and documents from executives associated with the Stoli Group, including Alexey Oliynik, while also pursuing information connected to Yuri Shefler.

Several courts have ordered additional testimony.

Among the procedural developments:

• A Michigan ruling found that questions had been improperly blocked during testimony.
• A California court ordered depositions to proceed in London involving relevant witnesses connected to the dispute.

Another major discovery battle centered on Jolie’s private emails and documents.

Between October 2025 and May 2026, Pitt attempted to obtain extensive communications.

In May 2026, the judge largely sided with Jolie on attorney-client privilege, denying Pitt’s broad discovery request while leaving open the possibility of reconsideration should new facts emerge later.

Brad Pitt seeks Angelina Jolie’s financial records as privacy dispute intensifies

The most recent phase of the litigation emerged in June 2026.

Pitt requested Jolie’s tax returns and financial records covering 2017 through 2019.

According to his legal team, those documents are necessary to challenge Jolie’s explanation that selling her Miraval interest was motivated by a desire for financial independence and to evaluate her claims regarding economic pressure and abuse.

Jolie strongly opposes the request.

She argues that the demand represents an invasion of privacy and mischaracterizes her previous court statements.

According to Jolie, she voluntarily produced financial records covering 2020 and 2021.

She also maintains that her earlier statements referred specifically to separating herself from what she described as a “controlling and abusive ex-husband,” rather than claiming she faced general financial hardship.

Her legal team further argues that Pitt has selectively quoted portions of her court filings.

As of early July 2026, no final ruling has been issued regarding Pitt’s request for the earlier financial documents.

Where the Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie Château Miraval lawsuit stands in July 2026

Despite years of litigation, the case remains far from over.

The California proceedings continue with ongoing discovery, while earlier actions in France and Luxembourg have shaped ownership and evidence issues without resolving the broader dispute.

So far, both parties have secured important procedural victories.

Pitt has obtained several favorable rulings, including orders compelling testimony from Stoli-related witnesses and the denial of portions of Jolie’s dismissal efforts.

Jolie, meanwhile, has successfully defended attorney-client privileged communications against Pitt’s broader discovery requests.

The parties also disagree on scheduling.

Reports indicate Pitt prefers an earlier trial date in 2027, while Jolie favors a later timetable.

Given the substantial financial interests involved—potentially reaching into the tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars—the litigation is expected to remain one of Hollywood’s most closely watched business disputes.

Why the Château Miraval legal fight remains one of Hollywood’s biggest unresolved business battles

At its core, the Château Miraval case combines celebrity, international business, property ownership, and deeply personal history.

Pitt’s legal position continues to assert that Jolie breached an agreement by selling her interest without consent, improperly transferred ownership, may have sabotaged the business, and that her financial-independence claims warrant closer examination in light of her successful acting career, including earnings from films such as Maleficent and Eternals.

Jolie continues to argue that no binding agreement ever prohibited the sale, that Pitt’s conduct has been vindictive and abusive, that selling her interest was necessary for independence, and that many of Pitt’s discovery requests reach far beyond what is appropriate.

Pitt has denied abuse allegations.

Public comments from both sides have remained limited outside official court filings, with legal representatives frequently declining additional comment when contacted by media outlets.

For now, the Château Miraval dispute stands as a rare case where a celebrity divorce has ended but an equally complicated business conflict continues. With discovery still underway, unresolved ownership issues, and a trial potentially extending into 2027, the “War of the Rosé” remains one of the entertainment industry’s most significant ongoing legal battles.