Brad Pitt has scored a significant legal win in his long-running dispute with ex-wife Angelina Jolie over their French winery, Château Miraval. On December 17, 2025, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge ruled in Pitt’s favor, ordering Jolie to produce unredacted versions of 22 communications—emails and texts exchanged between non-attorneys—listed on her February 14, 2025 privilege log. Jolie has 45 days to comply, according to court documents obtained by outlets like PEOPLE and USA TODAY.
The Heart of the Dispute
The battle centers on Jolie’s 2021 sale of her stake in the winery to a subsidiary of the Stoli Group for approximately $67 million. Pitt alleges this breached an agreement that neither would sell without the other’s consent. He seeks $35 million in damages, claiming the sale harmed the business. Jolie’s team has countered that no such binding agreement existed and accused Pitt of using the lawsuit to harass her.
The disputed communications involve Jolie’s business manager, Terry Bird; publicists Chloe Dalton and Arminka Helic; and financial consultants—documents Pitt’s lawyers argue reveal her intentions regarding the sale.
Jolie’s Team Calls Ruling a Violation
Paul Murphy, Jolie’s attorney, expressed disappointment: “The court’s ruling violates [California’s privilege law], undermines Ms. Jolie’s fundamental right to a fair trial, and represents yet another manifestation of Mr. Pitt’s years-long effort to harass and control her. We will appeal.” Pitt’s side maintains the documents are crucial business discussions, not privileged legal advice.
A Trial Looms in 2027
The judge set a trial date for February 1, 2027, with mediation ordered for October 28, 2026. The case has also seen international proceedings in Luxembourg, where Pitt regained temporary control of the vineyard.
A Bitter Vintage Continues
The Pitt-Jolie winery saga isn’t resolution—it’s escalation. As unredacted truths emerge, it thunders: Can privacy persist in partnership’s end? The court’s command affirms the fight’s fervor, scripting a chapter where vines entwine vengeance in celebrity’s ceaseless clash.
—By Manoj H