The legal fight between Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt over the French winery Château Miraval has taken another turn.

A Los Angeles judge recently sided with Jolie on a major discovery issue, marking a fresh development in the years-long dispute tied to the former couple’s winery business and divorce fallout.

The ruling arrived as both sides continue to challenge each other’s claims surrounding the sale of Jolie’s ownership stake in the estate.

Judge Blocks Access to Private Emails

Instagram | mybrangelina | Jolie secured a major discovery victory in her multi-year winery lawsuit against her ex-husband.

According to court documents reviewed by the Daily Mail, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Cindy Pánuco ruled that Jolie does not have to hand over 22 private emails connected to the winery case. The decision came after Pitt’s legal team attempted to gain access to communications Jolie had previously declined to produce.

Jolie’s attorney, Paul Murphy, described the ruling as “an important victory.” He argued that Pitt’s legal request crossed legal boundaries by seeking access to protected communications.

“The decision shows that Mr. Pitt was completely out of bounds when he sought access to obviously privileged documents,” Murphy stated.

He also noted that Pitt initially sought 126 documents before narrowing the request to 22 emails. “Now Mr. Pitt is getting nothing, zero,” Murphy added.

Murphy claimed the request reflected Pitt’s continued effort to maintain influence over Jolie’s private affairs, including conversations with her attorneys and advisors. He said both the appellate court and trial court eventually stopped those efforts.

Brad Pitt’s Team Pushes Back

A source close to Pitt reportedly told TMZ that Jolie’s side only secured “a potential temporary decision” that keeps information about her intentions hidden from the court for now.

The judge also rejected Jolie’s separate request to penalize Pitt’s lawyers nearly $34,000 over the motion used to obtain the emails. The court ruled that sanctions were not justified.

Pitt’s legal team had specifically sought emails involving several people connected to Jolie’s business and public relations circle, including business manager Terry Bird, British publicists Chloe Dalton and Arminka Helic, along with two financial consultants.

Why the Emails Became a Major Issue

In legal filings obtained by Us Weekly in October 2025, Pitt argued that Jolie regularly discussed legal and business matters with non-lawyers. The filings referenced Jolie’s own statement claiming she routinely had extensive discussions with Terry Bird regarding “essentially all aspects” of her business and professional life.

Pitt’s filing argued that those conversations should not automatically receive legal protection simply because they involved topics related to attorneys’ advice.

“What Jolie is describing here are brainstorming sessions between non-lawyers,” the filing stated.

Instagram | backgrid_usa | Pitt’s 2025 filings claim Jolie improperly shared confidential legal and business matters with non-lawyer Terry Bird.

The “F1” actor also claimed Jolie withheld nearly all internal communications discussing the sale of her Miraval stake to a third party, despite those conversations sitting at the center of the lawsuit.

His team also questioned why emails involving British publicists were protected, especially when no attorneys appeared in the communications. Pitt’s lawyers argued Jolie failed to explain why image consultants would be necessary in receiving legal advice about the winery sale.

After more than three years of litigation, Pitt’s side maintains that key communications remain missing. Court documents stated Jolie has produced only one internal email directly referencing the sale terms connected to the dispute.

The Château Miraval Battle Continues

The conflict dates back to 2021 when Jolie sold her interest in Château Miraval to Tenute del Mondo, the wine division of the Stoli Group. Pitt later filed a lawsuit in February 2022, claiming they had previously agreed neither party would sell their share without the other’s approval.

Jolie responded with a countersuit later that year. The “Maleficent” actress accused the “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” star of waging “a vindictive war” against her following their divorce filing.

The former “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” co-stars separated in 2016 after 12 years together and officially finalized their divorce in December 2024. Despite the divorce settlement, the dispute over Château Miraval remains active in court.

The latest ruling does not end the winery case, though it gives Jolie temporary protection over the disputed emails. Pitt’s legal team still argues that critical evidence tied to the Miraval sale has not been disclosed, while Jolie’s attorneys continue to challenge the scope of those demands.

As the courtroom battle moves forward, the Château Miraval dispute remains one of Hollywood’s most closely watched legal clashes involving celebrity business assets, privacy rights, and high-value ownership agreements.

Helen Hayward

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