- A mysterious, pirate-like individual 'broke into a family-run winery in Washington on Thanksgiving evening
- The intruder destroyed 5,000 gallons and $600,000 worth of artisanal, handcrafted wine
- Sparkman Cellars is now trying to fill orders after the huge loss
A man bizarrely dressed as a pirate broke into a family-run wine cellar in Washington and destroyed $600,000 worth of handcrafted wine before disappearing into the woods.
CCTV footage captured the eerie moment a mysterious man in a pirate outfit casually strolled into Sparkman Cellars in Woodinville, Washington, late on Thanksgiving night.
Security cameras from the basement caught the same figure crawling through the basement storage area at 10:30 p.m.
Video from the wine barrel warehouse showed the dramatic moment when gallons of artisanal, handcrafted white wine began pouring out and spreading across the ground.
The Sparkman family estimated that nearly 5,000 gallons of wine, equivalent to $600,000, was wasted during the mysterious figure's lawlessness.
A man bizarrely dressed as a pirate broke into a family-run wine cellar in Washington and destroyed $600,000 worth of handcrafted wine
CCTV footage captured the eerie moment a mysterious man in a pirate outfit casually walked into Sparkman Cellars in Woodinville, Washington, late at night on Thanksgiving Eve
The Sparkman family estimated that nearly 5,000 gallons of wine, equivalent to $600,000, was wasted during the mysterious figure's lawlessness.
The burglary occurred not long after the family closed their business the night before Thanksgiving.
The masked individual confidently walked to the side door of the building and gained access to the winery and barrel room, reportedly using an employee's keyboard.
Shortly thereafter, the suspect left the building with an umbrella and walked toward a wooded area adjacent to the facility.
According to the family, the valves of two tanks for the 2023 vintage white wine, which was to be bottled in mid-December, have been opened.
The wine – worth $55 a bottle – flowed down the drains of the Washington-based winery.
“It just shows that this individual wanted to hit this winery as hard as they could to take the biggest loss they could,” said Sergeant Eric White of the King County Sheriff's Office.
Sparkman is one of the largest wineries in the area and had just finished aging all of its wine after a strong harvest season.
Shortly thereafter, the suspect left the building with an umbrella and walked toward a wooded area adjacent to the facility
The Sparkmans opened their winery in 2004, producing wine from some of the most sought-after vineyards in Washington
According to the family, the valves of two tanks for the 2023 vintage white wine, which was to be bottled in mid-December, have been opened.
“This is a major blow to our small, family-owned business and was timed to cause maximum damage as the holidays approach,” Kelly and Chris Sparkman said in a statement.
“Our team has remained steadfast and focused in the face of this unimaginable crime.
“We remain committed to providing excellent wines to all of our customers and are grateful for the extraordinary support from our community of wineries, restaurants, retailers and wine enthusiasts. '
The Sparkmans opened their winery in 2004, producing wine from some of the most sought-after vineyards in Washington.
Sparkman Cellars' Woodinville facility features a tasting room. an outdoor terrace, a large event hall and several private event spaces.
The company is said to be now making efforts to meet their orders – after losing a large chunk of its shares in the terrifying incident.
Many of the Sparkman bottles are currently marked as 'sold out' on the Sparkman website, including Pearl Sauvignon Blanc, Apparition Rhône Blend, Lumière Chardonnay and Enlightenment Old Vines Chardonnay.