José Moro, owner of Cepa 21 winery, located in Castrillo de Duero in Valladolid, spoke to EFE after a brazen theft emptied three storage tanks of wine valued at approximately 2.5 million euros. Authorities are considering the possibility that the culprit is someone with intimate knowledge of the facility and its operations.
“From the video footage we have shared with the Civil Guard, it appears the person knows exactly what they are doing, moves with purpose through the site, and can access the tanks even in the dark. That level of familiarity suggests someone who understands the operation deeply”, Moro stated.
He added that he has informed the Civil Guard about the incident and that it is now up to investigators to proceed. He stressed that making definitive accusations about who is responsible would be premature and potentially unfounded.
The incident occurred in the early hours of the previous Sunday when an individual entered the premises and drained three tanks used for aging high-end wines from the winery’s range.
Security cameras captured a masked, unidentified person entering the winery and swiftly emptying the contents of the three tanks, specifically from the Horcajo and Malabrigo brands, whose sales have risen by about 15% over the past year.
Moro explained that the night was uneventful for him personally; he slept at the winery, unaware of the breach until later. The footage shows the intruder entering through a door that leads to the machine room and, with remarkable speed, draining all three tanks.
According to Moro, the thief appears to be highly skilled at manipulating the tank-access mechanisms, something not easily done. The footage also shows the person efficiently opening two more tanks, though those tanks were found empty.
Of the 60,000 liters spilled, 20,000 liters belonged to the Horcajo label, representing the year’s entire production for that brand. The remaining 40,000 liters were Malabrigo, comprising about a third of the winery’s total volume for the year.
Moro noted that the winery’s insurance covers fixed assets but not the value of the wine on the market. He estimates that losses will be substantial given the scale of the theft.
Regarding motive, Moro suggested that the thief’s aim was not merely financial gain but to cause damage: “It was a sacrilege, pouring it out. They could have stolen it, but what they did shows contempt for the wine and for a way of life, independent of the economic value.”
Cepa 21 stands out as one of Moro’s flagship projects, combining winemaking with enotourism and gastronomy, and it draws visitors who seek both quality wines and a rich sensory experience.