Brad Pitt has gained another procedural ruling in his long-running legal fight with Angelina Jolie over Château Miraval, the French estate and winery they once owned together.
A California court has ordered several people and entities connected to the Stoli Group to testify about the 2021 deal that moved Jolie’s interest in the winery to Tenute del Mondo, Stoli’s wine division. People reported that a June 17 court document granted a motion from Pitt’s legal team to compel depositions tied to the disputed transaction.
The ruling does not decide the central question in the case: whether Jolie violated an agreement with Pitt when she sold the company that held her stake in Miraval. It gives Pitt’s team access to testimony from people and entities his lawyers say may have knowledge of how the sale was arranged.
Angelina’s lawyer told People that the rulings have “no impact on the merits of the case,” while a source close to Pitt called them “another step towards transparency.”
The New Ruling Focuses on Testimony From Stoli-Linked Parties
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According to People, the court ordered depositions from Alexey Oliynik and “persons most qualified” from Tenute del Mondo B.V. and Nouvel LLC. The depositions must take place in London by Sept. 30.
Nouvel is the company Jolie sold to Tenute del Mondo in 2021. Pitt has alleged that the sale violated an understanding that neither he nor Jolie would sell their interest in Château Miraval without the other’s approval. Jolie’s side has disputed his framing and has accused him of using the lawsuit to continue a fight over control after their separation.
People reported that Pitt’s team had been trying to depose Oliynik since June 2025. Oliynik had allegedly refused to turn over relevant documents or appear for a deposition, arguing that he could not be forced to do so because he lives in Switzerland.
Pitt and Jolie’s Sides Framed the Ruling Differently
A source close to Pitt told People that the ruling could force Stoli-linked witnesses to explain how the Miraval deal was put together. The same source claimed Jolie chose a business partner Pitt did not want involved in the winery.
Jolie’s side rejected that reading. Her lawyer told People that the recent rulings do not affect the merits of the case and said Jolie is looking ahead to trial next year. A source close to Jolie told the outlet that she sold to Stoli because she expected the company to be a strong international distribution partner that could help grow the business.
Yuri Shefler May Still Be Ordered to Testify
The dispute also involves Stoli Group owner Yuri Shefler, whose role in the Miraval transaction has become another contested issue. Us Weekly reported that a California appellate court sided with Pitt on June 24 after Shefler argued that he had minimal involvement in the negotiations.
People reported that the appellate court questioned the idea that Shefler would risk almost $40 million on a transaction without meaningful involvement. A hearing on Pitt’s motion to compel Shefler’s deposition is scheduled for July 8.
That issue remains separate from the June 17 deposition order involving Oliynik, Tenute del Mondo, and Nouvel. If the court grants the Shefler motion, Pitt’s team could gain testimony from another person it says is important to understanding the 2021 sale.
The Miraval Case Has Outlasted the Divorce
Pitt and Jolie bought Château Miraval during their relationship and married at the French estate in 2014. The winery later became one of the most valuable remaining disputes after their breakup.
The former couple finalized their divorce settlement in December 2024, but the Miraval lawsuit continues separately. Pitt filed the winery lawsuit in 2022, alleging that Jolie’s sale damaged the business and violated their agreement. Jolie later countersued, accusing Pitt of trying to exert control over her after she filed for divorce.