1,200 pounds of grapes stolen from East Bay vineyard

OAKLEY — Authorities are searching for suspects who stole more than 1,200 pounds of wine grapes from an Oakley vineyard.

The Contra Costa Times (http://bit.ly/O5Jh6m) reports that thieves stripped about $1,500 worth of grapes from 81 plants on Stan Planchon's vineyard around 1:30 a.m. Monday.

The 90-year-old Planchon says he saw flashlights among the rows of zinfandel vines and went outside to confront the thieves, but they fled in a truck before he reached them.

Oakland police say at the scene they recovered another vehicle that was covered in bullet holes and had been reported stolen out of Antioch. No suspects had been arrested or named Wednesday.

Grapes from the 180-year-old vineyard are used in wine made by Rosenblum Cellars, an Alameda-based winemaker known for inexpensive, high-quality zinfandel.

___

Information from: Contra Costa Times, http://www.contracostatimes.com