(Newser)
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At least the criminals who stole $18 million in maple syrup were in it for the money. The Italian man who allegedly destroyed nearly $8 million in Brunello di Montalcino wine in early December was just pissed off. Italian police say Andrea di Gisi, a disgruntled employee at the Case Basse vineyard, dumped 10 barrels containing 16,400 gallons of the estate's Soldera wine down the drain on the night of Dec. 2, reports Reuters. Bottles bearing the Soldera label start at $140.
Di Gisi had worked at the winery for five years, but fought frequently with Gianfranco Soldera, the 75-year-old patriarch of the estate, say police. Their relationship reportedly grew worse after Soldera gave an apartment on the grounds to another employee instead of di Gisi. Investigators suspected di Gisi could have been behind the crime, and tapped his phone; they reportedly heard him talking about washing wine out of his clothes. A pair of his jeans are now being tested for evidence.
