Cepa 21 winery, owned by José Moro and located in Castrillo de Duero in Valladolid, faced a security breach in the early hours of Sunday when an unidentified intruder gained access and emptied three tanks used for aging 60,000 liters of high-end wine from the brand. The value of what was affected exceeds two and a half million euros.
The incident, captured by the winery’s surveillance cameras, occurred around 3:30 a.m. on Sunday. A hooded unidentified person entered the facility and swiftly emptied the contents of the three tanks.
José Moro explained to reporters that the footage shows the individual entering through a door that leads into the machine room, where the deliberate and rapid drainage began. In a quick sequence, three tanks were emptied.
Conoce el mecanismo
The intruder appeared to know exactly how to open the tanks, an action Moro notes is not simple. He added that two other tanks were also opened but remained empty in this instance.
Of the 60,000 liters spilled, 20,000 belong to the Horcajo brand and represent all of this year’s production, while 40,000 liters are from Malabrigo, constituting about one third of the year’s output.
José Moro asserts that the attacker’s sole motive seemed to be causing damage.
Further information from the winery indicates that a report has been filed with the Civil Guard to identify the author and investigate how the intrusion occurred, given that the security measures were in place at the time.
Additionally, nothing else appears to be missing from the winery, leading to the conclusion that this was not a typical theft.
Cepa 21 stands as one of José Moro’s flagship projects, blending wine production with enotourism and gastronomy.
In 2022, after three decades leading Bodegas Emilio Moro, José Moro invested in Cepa 21 to push the winery toward boutique operations and high-end Ribera del Duero wines.
By 2024, Bodegas Cepa 21 celebrated 22 years of existence and marketed four wine labels: Hito, Cepa 21, Malabrigo, and Horcajo. The latter two are positioned as premium lines, with plans to further boost their presence in the market.