At least seven masked intruders disabled alarms and CCTV at Marchesi Antinori, a family business established in 1385, before using the company’s forklifts to load two trucks with the haul.

The stolen wines include sought-after vintages of Solaia, Guado al Tasso and Tignanello, with bottles valued at between €120 and €400.

“The gang was very prepared,” chief executive Renzo Cotarella told Corriere della Sera. “A theft of this scale and value has never happened before in Italy.”

Cotarella expressed confidence that investigators would trace the trucks, noting that Tuscan roads were covered by cameras. The company’s insurance does not cover a theft of this scale and has warned customers against buying wine outside official channels.