Los Angeles, Calif. — Brad Pitt has gained a notable advantage in his ongoing legal battle with ex-wife Angelina Jolie over their jointly owned French winery, Château Miraval. A California Superior Court ruling on June 17 mandates the testimony of key executives from the Stoli Group, a global wine and spirits firm that acquired Jolie’s stake in the estate.
Pitt’s legal team contends that executives from Stoli possess essential insights regarding Jolie’s 2021 sale of the property to Tenute del Mondo, a subsidiary of Stoli. The ruling represents a significant step forward for Pitt as both parties prepare for trial.
Judge Cindy Pánuco granted Pitt’s request to question several individuals associated with Jolie’s former ownership of the winery. This includes Stoli executive Alexey Oliynik and representatives from Tenute del Mondo and Nouvel, the investment entity that previously held Jolie’s half of Château Miraval. The court has mandated that the companies confirm dates for Oliynik’s deposition by August 7 and establish the availability of Marina Troyanovskaya, Stoli’s head of marketing, by the same deadline.
The journey to securing this testimony has been fraught with obstacles. In June 2025, Pitt sought court authorization to question Oliynik, who had previously declined to provide documents or participate in interviews, claiming exemption due to his residence in Switzerland. This recent court ruling compels Stoli Group executives to engage in the discovery process, with a source indicating that they are now required to address the transaction openly.
However, not all of Pitt’s requests were approved. The judge declined to impose sanctions or fines against Jolie’s side regarding the discovery process, making this outcome a partial victory for Pitt.
This latest development follows a prior ruling where a Michigan judge determined that Stoli’s legal team had improperly obstructed testimony during a crucial deposition. Former Stoli General Counsel Todd Culyba was instructed not to answer significant questions about the involvement of Yuri Shefler, Stoli’s ultimate owner, in Jolie’s sale of her interest in Miraval. The court ruled that attorney-client privilege did not apply in this context, leading to an order for an additional deposition.
In December 2025, Pitt also achieved a victory when a judge required Jolie to submit unredacted non-privileged communications related to the winery dispute. However, a court in Los Angeles denied a request from Pitt to access a set of private emails, ruling that he had not met the necessary criteria to bypass Jolie’s claims of attorney-client privilege.
Jolie’s attorney, Paul Murphy, has downplayed the significance of the June 17 ruling, asserting that it will not alter the overall direction of the case. He expressed confidence that Jolie will prevail at trial and emphasized the need for the family to focus on moving forward.
Pitt and Jolie originally purchased Château Miraval in 2008, transforming it into one of the world’s most famous celebrity-owned wineries. Their divorce, finalized in 2019, has included contentious disputes extending beyond personal matters to complex issues of business and ownership rights.
In 2022, Pitt initiated legal action, claiming Jolie’s sale of her stake to Tenute del Mondo in 2021 violated an accord that prohibited either party from selling their interests without mutual consent. Jolie has disputed the existence of such an agreement, countering with a lawsuit that describes Pitt’s actions as vindictive. Pitt later filed additional claims seeking financial recovery linked to the sale.
Pitt’s legal team has highlighted concerns regarding the reputation of the Stoli Group, affected by criticism and boycotts amid its perceived ties to contentious political issues. In contrast, Jolie’s representatives argued that her choice of Stoli as a partner was made with business interests and the welfare of their six children in mind.
As the legal wrangling continues, both Tenute del Mondo and Nouvel submitted objections to the deposition requests before the June 17 ruling. The court’s order supersedes these objections, setting a timeline for crucial depositions as the broader dispute regarding Château Miraval remains unresolved. Murphy reiterated Jolie’s eagerness to settle the matter in court, allowing the family to transition beyond this chapter of conflict.