Wine Lovers, Beware! Trump’s 200% Tariff Could Make Your Favorite Bottle Unaffordable

If you enjoy a good glass of French wine or a smooth pour of Scotch, you might want to brace yourself. Former President Donald Trump is threatening to slap a massive 200% tariff on European alcoholic beverages, and the entire industry is freaking out. If this actually happens, your favorite bottle of wine could triple in price overnight.

What’s Behind the Tariff Threat?

This all goes back to an ongoing trade war between the U.S. and the European Union (EU). A few years ago, the U.S. put a 25% tariff on European steel and aluminum imports. In response, the EU decided to target American whiskey, planning to impose a 50% tariff on it starting this April.

Now, Trump is firing back, saying he’ll hit European wines, champagnes, and spirits with a whopping 200% tariff. The move is meant to put pressure on the EU, but it’s also setting up a potential disaster for American businesses and consumers.

What Does This Mean for You?

If you like European wine, get ready for sticker shock. The U.S. imported about $6.8 billion worth of wine in 2024, and the majority came from European countries like France, Italy, and Spain. If a 200% tariff is slapped on those bottles, expect to pay at least double—if not triple—what you’re used to.

A $30 bottle of Bordeaux? That could now cost $90. A $50 bottle of Champagne? Say hello to a $150 price tag.

For wine importers like Ronnie Sanders, CEO of Vine Street Imports, this is a nightmare. “I don’t think customers are ready to pay two or three times more for their favorite bottle of wine,” he says.

How This Could Shake Up the Wine and Spirits Industry

This tariff wouldn’t just affect consumers—it would cause chaos across the entire industry. Importers, distributors, wine shops, bars, and restaurants all rely on European wines and spirits to keep their businesses running.

Jeff Zacharia, owner of a fine wine shop in New York, is deeply concerned. “About 80% of the wines we sell are from Europe,” he explains. “There’s just not enough U.S. wine to replace that. People are loyal to certain wines, and they aren’t going to just switch from a Bordeaux to a California red without a fight.”

Restaurants, especially high-end ones, could be hit hard. Many carefully curate their wine lists around European selections, and finding replacements wouldn’t be easy. Sommeliers might have to completely rethink pairings, and some places may even remove European wines from their menus entirely.

And it’s not just wine—European spirits like Scotch whisky and Cognac could see massive price jumps, making it harder for bars and liquor stores to stock them.

Europe Is Worried Too

It’s not just American businesses that are panicking—European wine and spirits producers are watching the situation closely, and they’re not happy.

France, for example, exports nearly half of its $5 billion wine industry to the U.S. If tariffs skyrocket, many of those sales could disappear overnight.

Florence Cathiard, who owns Bordeaux’s Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte, is hoping this is all just a bluff. “Maybe this is just Trump using negotiation tactics,” she says, referring to his book The Art of the Deal. “But if this really happens, American customers won’t be able to afford our wines, and that would be a disaster.”

Italian winemakers are also nervous. Prosecco, one of the most popular sparkling wines in the U.S., could suddenly become too expensive for the average buyer, pushing people to look for alternatives—or to stop drinking it altogether.

Will This Actually Happen?

Right now, it’s still just a threat, but the industry isn’t taking any chances. Trade negotiations between the U.S. and the EU are ongoing, and experts are hoping a compromise can be reached before it’s too late.

But if a deal isn’t made soon, American wine and spirits lovers could be in for a rough summer—one where European wines become a luxury item, and businesses struggle to adapt.