12/01/2025
My attempt at making a political post not political.🫣Everyone thinks wine prices are going up because of inflation… but that’s not the whole story. I want to share something most wine drinkers don’t realize: wine tariffs matter, A LOT, and they affect every one of us.
The U.S. wine industry is one of the only import-driven industries that actually creates an economic surplus thanks to our unique 3-tier system. Because of that structure, wine keeps $18 billion right here in the U.S. each year.
Our industry is made up of:
🍷 47,000+ private retailers
🍷 6,000+ importers and distributors
🍷 350,000+ restaurants
🍷 More than 200,000 American jobs tied directly to wine
And here’s what most consumers don’t know:
➡️ We currently have a 15% tariff on wine, and there is talk of it increasing back to 25%, especially on French wines.
➡️ These tariffs hurt EVERYONE: shops, restaurants, wineries, and ultimately the consumer.
➡️ The majority of the U.S. wine industry agrees: the tariffs on imported wine need to go.
The US Wine Alliance is actively working on fighting these tariffs in the Supreme Court with the ultimate goal of:
✔️ No expansion of the current tariffs
✔️ Eventual exclusion of wine tariffs altogether
Most of the wine industry is built on small, family-run wineries, not giant corporations and many lawmakers don’t realize how much is at stake.
So what can you do?
❤️ Support your local wine shops
🍽️ Support independent restaurants
🍇 Buy from small, family-owned wineries not mass-produced brands from the grocery store.
Between the current economy and looming tariff changes, these businesses need us more than ever.
If you ever want help choosing great, small-production wines, I’m always here to guide you! 🍷💛