Trump’s Tariffs Push Up Wine Prices

Wine importers, distributors and restaurant buyers are scrambling to adjust prices as President Donald Trump’s shifting tariff policies continue to reshape the U.S. wine market, pushing costs higher and making it harder for businesses to plan inventory, margins and menus.

The pressure intensified after the Supreme Court ruled on Feb. 20 that tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act had been unlawfully enacted in V.O.S. Selections v. Trump, a case brought by Manhattan importer Victor Owen Schwartz. Trump responded by announcing universal 10% tariffs under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, a move now being challenged by attorneys general from 24 states but still in effect for 150 days. For wine businesses that depend on imported bottles from Europe and elsewhere, the result has been another round of uncertainty layered on top of earlier tariff fights during Trump’s first term and again in 2025.

Importers say the biggest problem is not only the added cost but the unpredictability. Prices have changed so often that many companies say they cannot build reliable forecasts or lock in long-term plans. Some firms moved early to stockpile inventory before tariffs hit, which helped hold down prices for much of 2025. But those inventories have thinned, and many suppliers now say they can no longer absorb the increases.

The effects are spreading unevenly through the market. Lower-priced wines are taking the hardest hit because even small increases can push bottles out of reach for value-conscious customers. In the $25 to $50 range, importers say demand is weakening as buyers become more cautious. At the same time, high-end wines, especially prestige Champagne and rare bottles, are still selling well, even as prices rise. That split is forcing producers, importers and distributors to decide how much of the burden each side can carry without losing business.

The tariff impact is not limited to imported wine. Domestic wineries are also facing higher costs because many rely on imported materials such as tirage cages, labels and other equipment. Steel tariffs have raised some of those expenses sharply, while shipping costs remain elevated because of broader global disruptions. Several winery owners said they have already raised prices or expect to do so soon.

In restaurants and retail shops, buyers are trying to protect sales by adjusting their lists more carefully. Some are raising by-the-glass prices while keeping bottle prices lower. Others are cutting back on riskier imports, reducing inventory in categories like rosé or Sancerre, or adding nonwine products to offset weaker sales. Midpriced restaurants appear especially vulnerable, with some operators reporting steep drops in bottle sales as customers trade down or drink less.

Industry executives say there is little room to simply pass every increase along to consumers because the three-tier system requires time for price changes to move from importer to distributor to retailer or restaurant. That lag means businesses must make decisions months ahead of time without knowing whether tariffs will change again. Even if refunds eventually become available for some importers, many in the trade expect that money would be used to cover debt, salaries, marketing and other rising costs rather than flow back into lower shelf prices.

For now, wine businesses are trying to split costs where they can, preserve volume and avoid sudden jumps that could drive customers away. But with tariffs still in place and more legal challenges pending, many in the trade say they are operating in a market where stability remains out of reach.