The impact of tariffs on wine imports to the United States was reflected in a 32.2% year-over-year decline in the first quarter of 2026. This decline amounted to $1.249 billion.
Among the leading companies exporting wine to the United States are Treasury Wine Estates, Constellation Brands, and Concha y Toro. These firms market red and white table wines, premium varieties, sparkling wines, and popular options such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.
Tariffs on Wine Imports
According to The U.S. Wine Trade Alliance (USWTA), U.S. companies that import, distribute, and sell imported wine capture the vast majority of the economic profits derived from its sale. However, they also bear the bulk of the tariff costs.
In 2019, Gomberg, Fredrikson & Ashte Associates, a respected and authoritative provider of wine industry data and analysis, found that, on average, one dollar of imported wine generated $4.52 in consumer spending.
In other words, 78% of revenue from imported wine sales in the United States goes to U.S. importers, distributors, retailers, and restaurants.
The following table shows trends in wine imports to the United States, in millions of dollars:
- 2021: 7,044.
- 2022: 7,306.
- 2023: 6,681.
- 2024: 6,782.
- 2025: 6,217.
Consumer price
Similarly, a report published in 2025 found that when the USTR imposed a 25% tariff on wine from France, Spain, Germany, and the United Kingdom between 2019 and 2021, U.S. consumers and businesses bore three-quarters of the tariff. Meanwhile, foreign producers bore only one-quarter by reducing their prices by 5.2 percent.
Furthermore, the USWTA notes that the price increase for consumers was greater than the amount of tariffs paid on wine.
With these relationships established, the USWTA asserts that the impact of the tariffs since April 2025 can be assessed. Additionally, it is possible to analyze how the 25% tariffs are likely to harm U.S. businesses.
Total U.S. consumer spending on wine was approximately $74.3 billion in 2025. In the same year, the United States imported $6.2 billion worth of wine.
Economic Losses
Using the formula above, that imported wine generated $27.6 billion in revenue for U.S. importers, wholesalers, retailers, and restaurants. This represents more than one-third of total domestic spending on wine.
Thus, approximately $21.5 billion in domestic commercial revenue beyond the value of imports was generated for Americans who imported, distributed, and served imported wine. This includes wine from European Union member states last year.
Consequently, the USWTA informed the USTR that restrictions on wine imports from the European Union are causing significant economic losses to U.S. companies and workers in the wine sector, in addition to harming domestic wineries in the premium segment.
These were the main foreign suppliers of wine to the U.S. market from January to March 2026, in U.S. dollars and their year-over-year percentage change:
- France: $473 million, -37.9 percent.
- Italy: $394 million, -31.8 percent.
- New Zealand: 130 million, -0.2 percent.
- Spain: 66 million, -29.0 percent.
- Australia: 40 million, -38.5 percent.