In a shocking incident, a man dressed as an old West outlaw infiltrated a Washington winery and deliberately destroyed 5,000 gallons of white wine, equivalent to 25,000 bottles. The suspect, who sported a cowboy hat and a poncho, managed to evade authorities and left behind only spilled alcohol and a silhouette captured on security footage.
The incident took place on November 22 at Sparkman Cellars in Woodinville. When employees returned to their warehouse after Thanksgiving, they were greeted by the overwhelming stench of skunked wine. Security footage obtained by Fox 13 revealed the events that unfolded once the winery was closed for the day.
The unidentified suspect gained access to the facility through an employees-only entrance using a keypad code. Inside, the intruder entered the barrel room and opened two 2,500-gallon tanks of white wine, causing their contents to flood the warehouse floor. The suspect took a few moments to admire the chaos before leaving the scene.
After the act, the mysterious outlaw opened a dark umbrella and vanished into the nearby woods. It remains unclear whether he indulged in a glass of wine to celebrate his destructive accomplishment. The estimated cost of the ruined wine is around $1 million, not including the expenses for extensive cleanup.
Sparkman Cellars had recently completed barreling all of its wine for aging following a successful harvest. The incident has left the winery scrambling to find solutions and fulfill their orders. The King County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the case, but no suspect has been publicly identified at this time. Anyone with information related to the incident is urged to contact the authorities.
In conclusion, this audacious act of sabotage has dealt a significant blow to Sparkman Cellars, causing immense financial loss and disruption to their operations. The motive behind the attack and the identity of the outlaw remain unknown, leaving the winery and law enforcement authorities with many unanswered questions.
