Brad Pitt wins court ruling in Château Miraval dispute as Stoli witnesses testify

Brad Pitt has secured a legal victory in his ongoing dispute with former wife Angelina Jolie over the sale of her stake in Château Miraval. A California court has ordered representatives of the Stoli Group to give testimony.

According to court documents dated June 17, the Superior Court of California granted a motion from Pitt's legal team.

It requires depositions from members of the Stoli Group. Its wine division, Tenute del Mondo, bought Jolie's share of the French winery in 2021.

Pitt has argued that Stoli executives have first-hand knowledge of the transaction. That sale is at the centre of the long-running legal battle between the former couple.

The ruling follows Pitt's 2025 effort to compel testimony from Stoli executive Alexey Oliynik. Oliynik had argued that, as a Swiss resident, he could not be forced to produce documents or appear for deposition.

New court filings say Oliynik must now be deposed in London by September 30. The same applies to representatives from Tenute del Mondo B.V. and Nouvel LLC, the company Jolie sold to.

In a separate ruling on June 24, California's Court of Appeal also reversed an earlier decision about Stoli owner Yuri Shefler's role in the transaction.

The court said: “It defies credulity that Shefler, a sophisticated businessman, would risk almost $40 million on a transaction about which he knew nothing and with which he had no involvement.” A hearing on Pitt's motion to compel Shefler's deposition is set for July 8.

A source close to Pitt called the ruling “another step towards transparency over what took place.” The source also said Shefler “was a partner [Jolie] chose knowing it was a partner Brad did not want involved in the business”. They also claimed Jolie had agreed Pitt “would have first right of refusal” before any sale.

Jolie's representatives disputed the importance of the rulings. Her lawyer told PEOPLE that the decisions have “no impact on the merits of the case, and certainly has no impact on Ms. Jolie's case”.

The lawyer added that Jolie is looking forward to “defeating the case at trial next year so that their family can finally focus their energies on healing and moving on.”

A source close to Jolie also rejected Pitt's claims. The source said she chose Stoli because she believed it would be “an excellent world-wide distribution partner” that could help grow the business for their children.

The source added, “The truth is that Pitt's ego and obsession for control got in the way. Brad refused to work with Stoli simply because Angie chose them, not him.”

Pitt and Jolie's legal dispute began in February 2022. Pitt alleged that Jolie sold her share of Château Miraval without his approval, despite what he says was an earlier agreement requiring mutual consent.

Jolie later countersued, saying Pitt had been “waging a vindictive war against” her since she filed for divorce in 2016. The former couple finalised their divorce settlement in December 2024, but the Château Miraval case is still ongoing.